Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-06
FArngn REILLY DEAD.
The venerated vicar-tseneral PASSES
Away Thursday Morning End of n
Career OF Great Usefulness The

The Venerated vicar-dseneral PASSES
AwayThursday Morning End of "A
Career OF Great Usefulness The
Funeral Tuesday Morning.
This Very Reverend Patrick Reilly,
Vicar-General of this diocese and pastor
Of st. Mary's Church, died on Thursday
morning at his parochial residence, adj
joining the church, No. 500 East Sixth
street. The venerated Father has been
very i'll for the past six months and for
several days his symptoms have clearly
indicated that the close of his life of
great usefulness was at hand. Father
Reilly has been in declining health for
two years, the result of general debility.
He however continued to administer his
Offices as pastor of the church named and
the Rev. Dennis j. Flynn was assigned as
assistant to the vicar general and has
since shared the pastoral duties.
On January 4th, last, deceased officiated
at mass for the last time. II is thought
that upon this occasion he contracted q
severe cold. In few days afterward he
was severely attacked with pneumonia
and was alarmingly i'll for some time.
He never rallied from the effects of the
sickness sufficiently to leave his bed for
any length of time. He was taken TO
Point Pleasant, N. j., early in May in
hopes that the sea air would strengthen
his debilitated constitution, but the ex-
pectations in this direction were not real
lied and the patient was brought back to
his home here. He never left his room
again after returning from the home of
his sister by the seaside. Gradually the
venerable priest has been losing strength
and for some days his attendant physi-
clan has known that the patient could
not long survive.
His sister, Mrs. Dossanters, and his
nieces, the Misses Dossanters, and Miss
Annie Reilly, and the immediate members
Of the household were by his bedside
when dissolution occurred and were en-
gagged in prayer when the dying father
breathed his last. His death was entirely
peaceful and without pain. He was in
full possession of all his faculties, and IL
short time before the dissolution dis
cussed certain personal affairs and gave
directions concerning matters that were
near to him.
When death had closed the eyes of the
beloved pastor, the bell of st. Mary's
Church tolled funeral knell, which
spread the sad intelligence to all the con-
gregition, and in fact throughout the
city. People crowded about the pnrson-
age unwilling to accept the sorruwful
message tolled out by the bell repeated
inquiries at the house only to have the
news of death confirmed. Regret was
expressed ON all sides, and the discussion
turned upon the loss TO the poor irrespec-
tive of creed, nationality or color and the
community in general has sustained in
the death of the yicar-general The de-
ceased leaves considerable property, accu-
INFLATED through judicious real estate in
vestments in the early days of his minis
trations here 1t is distributed by will,
recently executed, it is believed, prin-
cipally to his sister, nephew and nieces,
with some charitable requests.
The question of succession TO the pas
torate of st. Mary's Church rests with
the bishop who names the successor.
The Very Rev. Patrick Reilly was born
in County Cavan, Ireland, October 18th,
1907, and came to this country with his
father in 1921. He was educated at
Emmittsburg, Md, and ut the college at
Georgetown, ID. c., receiving his ordina-
ton at the latter institution.
He came to Wilmington in 1884. AT
that time st. Peters, the only Catholic
church in the city, which was built IN
1916, was under the charge of Father
Kinney, who lived ut Coifey Run, about
five miles from town, on the Lancaster
Pike, who officiated once month. His
assistant, Father Carroll, was ordained II
bishop and transferred to CovinHon, KY,
and Father Reilly came here rs his sue
cessor.
For nearly 90 years Father Reilly re-
manned Mt st. Peters, faithfully minister
ing to his people and rapidly advancing
the material interests of the church.
During this time he built st. Mary's Col
lege, the active management of which he
personally assumed. Finding the labors of
both charges too much for him, he gave
up his pastoral duties, about 1852 OF 1853,
and devoted himself exclusively to the
college.
IN 1858 he was appointed by Bishop
Newman to build and take charge of st.
Mary's Church. He accomplished the
work of building, paying for and conse-
Grating the edifice in eight months, and
upon the completion of his labors
assumed pastoral charge. He re-
manned at st. Mary's constantly until his
death, period of nearly 26 years, dur
ing which time he labored faithfully and
indefatigably. He also built and paid
for st. Mary's parochial school and two
other dwellings. He was practically the
originator Of st. Paul's and Sacred Heart
churches, erected within recent years.
After leaving the college he sold it to II
company for $40, 900, reserving from the
original purchase some nine or 10 acres
of land, which he subsequently disposed
of. Part of this reserve was the land on
which the Sacred Heart church WIS built
which he sold for that purpose to the
trustees.
When the Delaware Peninsula was
erected into diocese and Bishop Becker
ncpinna1 to- 10 Rai
was appointed vicar-general, which posi-
ton he held until his death.
While his labors i'll the church were
greeted with such signal success, his
lninistrations outside of the pulpit were
also remarkable. lie was truly good
citizen, i'll all that the term implies. To
his people he was ever faithful friend
md adviser, in temporal as well as
spiritual matters. He looked closely to
their material Investments, and in hun
dreds of instances took charge of the
savings of his parishoners, investing them
with n care and iudicious foresight that
resulted in comfortable profit, without
the loss of n dollar in a single instance.
Up to two years ago he was blessed with
marvellous health, and performed pro
digiOus amount of labor, with an immu
nifty from sickness or failing powers that
WIS ftHlil WpIsitTlui. st.
On the 9th of August, 1884, his con
gregation and the Catholic fraternity
generally united in celebrating the
semi-ccntennial anniversary of his priest
hood. In addition TO the regular morn
ing services Pontific,ll mass was celebrated
at st. Mary's Church by Bishop Becker
assisted by the Catholic clergymen of th'
city and II number from other places. Al
the close of the services the venerable
father was made the recipient of the fol
lowing valuable presents from variou
friends handsomely bound and golt
clasped missal and heavy stand of bras
from the congregation of the Sacret
Heart Church sterling silver tea seryic
of xix pieces in IL handsome rosewood DO,
lined with blue satin, and heavy silye
salver from the recipients own parishion
ers; life sized crayon portrait i'll Il ricl
bronze frame of Florentine design, iron
ST. AIary's Doctrine Gonfraternity nap
kin ring and spectacles of gold from til
Blessed Virgin Sodality; placque, wit
painting of st. Patrick, from the Sister
of Visitation; purse of gold from tn
Rev. Patrick Corrigan, n former pupil
set of oil stocks-pyx and stole-froi
sisters of Chestnut Hill, Pr The flora
gifts were numerous and elaborate.
breyiary from the clergy of the dioces
was also presented. Evidences of muc
agitation were visible upon the venerabl