Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-22
Confirmation Services at st. Paul :
(IriSh Catholic Church.

administered the Holy Sacrament of
Confirmation to one hundred and fifty
seven children and five adults. at ST.
Paurs Irish Catholic Church iu this
city. At eight o'clock a m. the Arch
bishop celebrated the Holy Sacrifices of
the Mass, during which the persons to
be confirmed received the Sacrament of
1.-THE Holy Eucharist. At 9:45 o'clock
a. m. the conformandi assembled at the
school house, where under the skillful
manipulations of the sisters Mary Ed
ward Angela and Alagsia, the young
girls were quickly and neatly arrayed
in their robes of confirmation. At 10
o'clock the procession was formed by
the pastor Rev. Father O'Keefe, assist
ed by Rev. Harmon, of Darlington.
The girls. dressed in white. wearing
wells and wreaths, presented very
beautiful appearance. Two by two
they marched around the school house
to the front of the pastors residence.
where the Archbishop in surplice and
rochette, the Celebrant Deacon and
Sub-Deacon in robes, the assistant
priests in cossack and SUPPLIES, await
ed them; thence they marched in order
into the church and took their places
in silence and devotion.
After entering the church the solemn
High Mass was begun. Father Demp-
sey. of Highland. Celebrant; Rev.
NJ. Lubey, of Ridgeway. Deacon; Rev.
Habenstock, of Seymour, Sub-Deacon /;
Rev. Huber, of Mineral Point, and
Rev. Rademacher, of Highland, Mas
ters of Ceremonies; Revs. Harmon and
Father O'Keefe took charge of the
children and general order i'll the
church.
After the psalm "Judica," the Arch
bishop assembled the elevated platform.
prepared for him with prie-dieu
wherein he knelt during the service.
The church was crowded to completion,
not one half being able to gain admit
lance. Still everything was hushed
and quiet. The fine, inspiring tones
of the organ, the beautiful singing of
the choir, especially prepared for the
occasion, the solemn voices of the
clergy chanting the sacred prayers Of
the Mass alone broke the stiffness,
causing each one present to feel that
they were witnesses to {; sacred scene
in the temple of God. Truly those
present must have been impressed
with the beauty and grandeur of the
church services, and felt deep convic-
ton of the truth of their Holy Catholic
Church. The Archbishop in his purple
robes, the priests, deacons with their
golden vestments, the priests with
their SUPPLIES were bow ed in prayer,
the girls in their white garments of
innocence and purity, all combined to
make one think of the beauty and
holiness OF religion.
At the completion of the Mass and
Immediately before confirmation, Rev.
+. Pagan, pastor at Bay View. Mil
waukee, delivered the sermon. He
spoke for nearly three-quarters of an
hour in most pleasing and impressive
manner. His listeners not for
one moment seemed to lose one word
he uttered, but showed the strictest
attention to every sentence that fell
from his lips. He dwelt in a learned
and lucid manner on the Institution and
objects of the Holy Sacrament of Con-
firmation; special graces and gifts of
the Holy Ghost; the strength conferred
upon the confirmed by which they
might become really soldiers of Jesus
Christ, His language was chaSte and
Impressive; his delivery faultless. and
the people hope that they hava not
heard him for the last time.
After the sermon the Archbishop
assumed his Mitre and Crosie,. assist
ed by the deacons and priests. one
carrying the Sacred Chrism; the other
the BombaZine; one announcing in
loud voice in Latin the name of each
candidate that approached for conlir-
nation. To the student of church
history looking at the ceremony, his
mind would be carried back to the
old days of the church, and he would
| feel within himself that if all things
else change, the Catholic Churth re-
mains unchanged.
The Archbishop urged upon them
the necessity of Catholic education and
supporting Catholic schools. In very
fatherly and kindly manner he spoke
to the children of temptations, warning
them of the dangers of the world, and
urging them to remember the graceS
they received, and asking them to be
true to their church and religion.
Then the children renewed their bap-
tismal vows and beliefs by reading the
creed.
| The church inside was beautifully
decorated, the sanctuary festooned with
evergreens, and the altar artistically
ornamented with "a profusion of flow
ers, the work of the Sisters.
Everything was conducted in most
orderly way; though there was an i'm
mense number, not the slightest con-
fusion was discernable throughout.
which plainly evinces the obedience of
the children and the perfect control
and training which they receive. The
Catholics of st. Pauls congregation feel
highly fattcred and appreciate the
trouble and labor of their pastor
| Father O'keefe who never spares
himself for their benefit and welfare.
John NJ. Ellsworth returned on Tues
day evening, Sept. 18th. from the Min
nesota State fair, which was held at
Rochester. 1t was the largest show of
horses ever seen in Minnesota, there
| being 246 entries. Ellsworth showed
in five classes and took lst. premium
in each. There were five car loads
of horses from Madison. two from