The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-05-29
First Communion and Confirmation IN
Pineville.

Last Sunday, the Goth, the little
church of the Sacred Heart, Pine
Vile, was the scene of an interesting
ceremony, viz: the receiving of their
First Communion by a dozen of the
little children. At $50 o'clock, the
honr appointed for the celebration OF
the Mass, the church was thronged to
its Utmost capacity with the parents
and frieuds of the first Communicates,
and many others who had come to wit
ness the interesting and impressive
ceremonies of the dav-among the
large crowd being many from Alex
andria.
Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father
Menard, the Rector of the Alexandra
Catholic church, who had been for
several days assisting Father Dumas
in instructing and preparing the little
children for a worthy reception OF the
Holy Sacrament.
The choir of the church, assisted by
a few of the young ladies from our
town, furnished most excellent music
for the occasion.
The boys, five in number, were
dressed, as is usual on such occasions,
in white pants and black coats, while
the six little girls were beautifully at
tired in white, and as the eleven com
municants knelt for the first time at
the railing of the altar to receive
Communion, the sight was highly i'm
pressive.
At the conclusion of the Mass tue
Right Rev. Bishop Dnrier, of this Di-
Geese, preached a most excellent and
instructive sermon on the beauties,
comforts and consultations of the Cath
Ole religion, dwelling briefly towards
it's close on a proper observance OF
Sunday saying to his hearers that
while the day was one Of rest and
worship it was also one of rejoicing
day on which the front door of the
home was not to be closed and long
faces worn-let the saloons, the work
shops. the places of business he closed
but throw open wide the door of the
home, that the glorious snu might add
to the brightness of the house; if a
piano in the house it should send forth
sweeter music on that day than on any
other; the dinner table should he laden
with something extra-sonething moi
had during the week, aud that limo
cent amusements and recreations or
that day were not condemned. He
concluded with a few we'll chosen re-
marks to the children.
His sermon being finished the Sac
rament of Confirmation was admins
tered to those who had few moment:
before received their. First Commun
ion, after which the Bishop gave hi!
blessing to all.
A procession of the first communi
cants was formed and the Bishop wa'
escorted to the pastoral residence, only
a short distance from the church
where he was entertained and received
the legion of visitors who called. IL
the afternoon he spent couple o
hours in our town, leaving on the 4.3(
train for Natchitoches.
We are pleased to see the many i'm
provements which have been and arr
being made in the church property o
our sister city, Pineville; among th'
additions being nicely finished resi-
dence for Rev. Father Dumas, and tn
establishment of a fine school, for boy
and girls, by the Sisters of Divin
Providence. We learn with satisfac
ton that new and large school build
ing is to be erected and will be il
readiness by the first of Septembe
next, it being the intention to make
, boarding as we'll as day school :
More than half of the funds necessar
for the erection of the building hav
been donated, and the balance vii
t doubtless soon be raised. The matte
is in the hands of Il committee, tn
, members of which have never bee
known to fail in anything they under
j. take. We extend our hearty goo
I wishes for success.