Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-28
FIFTY YEARS A PRIEST
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF FA THEIR
REILLY,S ORDINATION.
Rich GIFTS and Onerings of FIswers
10 the Venerable Prtest-An EIos
quenE Commemorative Address by
ahe Right Rev. Bishop Becker.


quenE Commemorative Address b,
she Right Rev. Bishop Becker.
The golden jubilee or the fiftieth ami
versary of the ordination into the priest
hood Of the Very Rev. Patrick Reilly
v. g., pastor OF St. Msry's (R. CO. parisl
and vicar general OF the Wilmington
diocese, was celebrated with much POM
and zsal Sunday, nearly all the Cath
olics in this city participating. The ven
erable father was unaware that any oele
bration OF his ordination had beer
arranged, and the day brought forth {
series Of most agreeable surprises to him
st. Msry's Church was built by the very
reverend father, and has been under hi
pastorship continuously since. Its in
terror was beautifully decorated and
arranged for the occasion. A new altal
had been recently added, and two
handsome studies In marble oocupiei
inches In the front wall. The altar wai
veritalle bed OF roses and fragrant
blossoms arranged with exquisite taste
Above them shone the candles whiot
brilliantly illuminated the soene and
heightened the imposing effect. OF the
numerous offerings Of flowers, there was
ohalios of pinks between two sheats o.
wheat resting on blBe OF roses with The
words: ''A priest forever and orowr
resting on bed of roses and surmounted
by CROSS with the words, "His CROWN
traced In immortelles at the base. A
small altar on each side Of the sanctuary
was also laden with flowers and elsbo
rate trimmings.
The Very Rev. Father Reilly celebrated
the first mass Of the day at O'Clock il
the morning, and administered molly com
munion. All his immediate friends were
present to receive the sacrament st Lis
hands, including his sister, nephews. aud
nieces. The mass was served by Joseph
Kissing liie-long friend Of the worthy
and aged celebrant.
At II O'Clock pontihosl mass was cele
brated by the the Right Rev. Thomas A,
Becker, bishop of Delaware, with tbs
Very Rev. William Byrne, D. D., and v
g., Of Boston, an old pupil Of Father
Reilly, as assistant priest the Rev
James McCallsn, s. s., deacon Of th'
mass; the Rev. J. J.. Tierney OF St. Paul's
sub.deaoon; the Rev. Patrick C0rrigan o
Hoboken, N. j., and the Rev. George R
Kelly OF St. Joseph's, both pupils o
Father Reilly, dsscons Of honor thu
Very Rev. Benjamin J.. Kelley Of st
Peters, master Of ceremonies. Besidei
the officers Of the mass there were seated
within the sanctuary rails: the Rev. d
J. Finn, the Rev. NJ. x. Fallon of St
Patrick's; the Rev. William Dollard, st
James /; the Rev. Father CorbiRian, o. s
B.; the Rev. Father Dominick, o. 3. B.
the Rev. Father Miletis, o. s. B.
Letters and kilograms, expressing
conRratulation and regret at being uusbl,
to attend the jubilee were received tron
Cardinal McCioskey, and his ooadjutoi
Archbishop Corrigan the Rev. Fathel
Sourin, 8. J. of Baltimore who celebrated
nis golden jubilee three years ago; thu
Rev. DR.. Brann Of New York; the Rev
Patrick Connolley, Jersey City the Rev
Edward Henehey OF Wye Mills ant
others.
A choir OF exceptionally we'll trained
voices under the leadership Of Frederick
Bscher, gave a most effective rendition o
Mozart's twelfth mass.
The Right Reverend Bishop Becke
delivered an eloquent discourse from 81
Matthew, xviii; 10, 20.
Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizin
them In the name OF the Father, and of the Sol
and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observ
behold, i am with you always. even to the end o
the world.
He said Very reverend father and dea
brethren Our blessed Lord selected Hi
apostles to fulfil their part Of the great worl
commenced by Him indeed, but to be con
tinued, in ever increasing extent, until tn
end of time. Now His mission was for tn
salvation of mankind in every age, by tn
removal of sin from the hearts OF men, to en-
able them to enter into life everlasting, Thi
was divine work and continuous; a per
petual work requires an everlasting body o
| workers.
IL is specifically mentioned that His nam
| indicated clearly His mission: ellis nam
shall be called Jesus, for He shall save Hi
people from their SINS" He is therefor
| called our Saviour, our redeemer, the shepher
and teacher OF the world.
By His miracles He proved Himself to b
the Messias, and pointing to them, II
| claimed His higher, even nobler, and vastl
more spiritual power, over the souls OF mer
| He wrought all His miracles to prove Hi
mission, and whether healing the sick, cleans
ing the leprous, giving light to the blind, Q
raising the dead TO life, He had in view th
/ ODleCb 1UT NulCu n6 Chlll6 lutO lhb NOliut
| save His people from their SINS" Now sin
the only obstacle in the way Of salvation.
denotes, however, not only the darkness c
our intellect, but the perverseness of ou
| will. He is the light to illumine our ignol
ance. He also has the power to strengthe
our will by His divine grace. The former
done by His teaching, which is infallibl
truth; the latter by the sacraments which az
the channels of His eternal love for men.
Is. oh n
doubt is left concerning the extent and IN
port OF their mission. He states with admin
able clearness whereto He was sent, His powe
and its endurance. This was necessary tbs
the world might clearly understand whf
would otherwise be impossible for mel
human nature to contemplated He ha
impaired to men His own authority. The e.
tent both of His power and their mission O
earth is thus stated "All power is given
me both in heaven and on earth. Go y
therefore, and teach all nations bsptizin
them in the name Of the Father, and Of Il
Son, and of the Holy Ghost teaching the
to observe all things whatsoever have con
manded you and behold, l am with you q
days, even to the contamination of I'll
world" Here our Lord claims supren
dominion as ruler over heaven and eartl
hence His authority to send His apostle
their saered obligation to teach the whole d
I
pledged to be with them in their work TO
! ever.
To make it still more definite, He says
them, "As the Father hath sent me even so
, send you" Thus every source of dou
is cut Off in reference to the legitimate chs
acter of their mission, which none can hay
unless sent by Him.
he empowers them to perform always I
. same work to which He came, and, breathil
: | Do aaid tRQNatVn T.
, Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgiN
| they are forgiven them; and whose sins
! retain, they are retained" The work
. teaching the sinner all truth, and of freei
him from the fetters Of iniquity, is clearly
i. divine work. No man could do either t
: one or the other, unless sent by Jesus, @
) Saviour-God.
/ This work, being continuous, and for
4 benefit of men, must have perpetual succ
: sion so long as men are upon the earth. I
fulflment is to take place, therefore, 30 10
as ignorance and sin continue. Hence
= says: 81 am with you always, even to
/ end of time" Has He performed this grt
Il work, and how has it been done2 We rei
a for example, that the apostolic college v
q made complete by the election Of
Matthias, and the whole history of his ele'
tion to the apostolate. Acts I, q, %, 23,
d 25 and 26, ending with the words Sand
was numbered with the twelve" In
same history we are told Of the conyersi
n of Saul, the prosecutor, and his being choi
by our Lord to be "a vessel of election" a
!. the great doctor of the nations. In due ii
!, st. Paul sets apart, as he also had bt
u ordained in the holy sacrifice, and by fastil
n prayer, and the laying ON OF hands, his o
r beloved disciples, st. Timothy and
a Titus. To these he gives the comms
q that they should in like manner, set 9th
n over the different peoples Ito keep the depC
~ !, of faith untarnished) as bishops and prie
II in the flock purchased by the price Of
70 redemption. Elaborate rules are laid do
Z as to the character of those who should
a selected. They must avoid novelties
teaching, fly from schismatics who wo
n dare to rend the seamless garment of Ohri