The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-04

twenty-five Years . Faithful
Priest.

prise him wieh Cheering Verde and Hand
On January 2. 1864. It vincenne., the
faithful Prieat st Jasper was ordained by
Bishop de ST. Pslsis. consequently last
Wednesday wss the 25'h anniversary OF
the event. His congregation At Jasper,
which he has served 90 faithfully and Ia
boriOusiy for twenty three yeare, deter
mined to surprise him with Z visit. aud
tokens Of their love. and right well did
they carry II ont. making his heart glad
10 know that bic lsbors and sacrifices
are appreciated by the people of all
clnsses and denominations among whom
he has been monitor for SO many wears.
The history Of bic service Ia Jasper IL
almost . history Of the town, 40 init
mnleIy has he been connected with Il.
Father Fidelis came to Jasper when the
town had about 500 inhabitants, and bic
congregation. living largely on farms,
and then embracing Huntingburg, Pc.
tersburg, st. Anthony, and possibly acme
other points, numbered about $500
souls. lie has so faithfully taught the
principles Of bis church, that he has seen
independent congregations grow up At
each Of these points, taking of hundreds
OF his former congregation, and yet his
own congregation now numbers proba-
bly, $500 souls with over 100 baptisms
annually, and nearly that many msrr-
ages, and the duties OF properly admins
eering 10 their spiritual wants requires
the services Of an assistant constantly,
and sometimes OF more than one. while
the town has increased to about 1000
inba bitants.
On New Years night several hundred
citizens assembled on the Public Square.
with torches, the Star Brass Band, the
choir Of the st. Cecilia Concordis So
ciety, wagon load Of fire works, SC aud
marched up 10 the Priests residence
adjoining the church, followed by
most Of the ladies and children OF ih+
town, also. There they marched into
the yard, and the band began to play.
when Father Fidelis. and two or three
other priests, came to the door In sur
prise to sec the gathering and the torches
While the band played. the air was fi,-
ed with sky rockets, fire wheels aud
roman candies, aud the rocks around
the front Of the house were liz up with
red, white and blue fires. Then the
choir sang two pieces beautifully, alter
which Mr.. A. n. Sweeney stepped to the
front and In speech Of about Is minutes.
N we'll chosen phrases congratulated
Father Fidelis upon the 25th anniver-
sary Of his ordination. When Mr.
Sweeney finished, the Rev. Father essay
ed TO return bis thanks. and his complete
surprise was shown BY The fact that one
Of the visiting priests had to inform him
that his time TO speak had not come yet
With an sh, and oh, he stepped back,
evidently wondering what was to come
next, while the choir sang another piece.
Then Mr. +. Soligs stepped forward and
presented him . handsome watch from
some friends; this was another surprise,
and when be received Il be put 1t up to
HE ear to see IL It was running The
Band played tune. aud then DR.. K. j.
kempf stepped forward and read an ad-
dress Of cougratuIation and thanks on
behalf Of the faithful members and
trustees Of the Church, curing which Mr.
3. kuebler and N. Friedman, ST., re-
presenting the church officers, stepped
forward and presented him amagnif-
cent golden chalice, on Z platter, and
covered with . handkerchief. When
the covering was removed by one Of bic
assistants, aud the beauty OF the chalice
exposed, he was still more greatly sur
priced. At the conclusion OF DR.. Kempc-
address the Band struck up again, aud
the Rev. Father bad time 10 overcome
somewhat hls emotions and gather bic
thoughts, while the music and fire works
attracted attention. Then he responded,
returning his thanks for their evidence Of
kindness personally, and: fealty to the
church, and from en- evidently over flow
ing heart responded TO their good
wishes, and stepping from bis door
went through the crowd, cordially
shaking haads with oil, and receiving
personal congratulations.
Rev. p. Fldelis Maute va born on
March, 10, 1897, q Inneringen, 10 the
principally Of Higmsringen, Switzer-
land. He studied st bic native place.
then at Einsiedeln, and q the sem mary
Of Mayence. Coming to the United
states In 1861, he arrived ct st. Meiursd
on the 9th OF May Of that year. On the
23d Of January, 1863, q St. Meinrad, he
hrst entered into the cericate, taking
the tonsure, the fret degree; and also.
the Min. Ordination be was ordained
sub-deacon 1t vincennes, Dec. 81, 1868,
and deacon, at the same place, Jan. 1.
1864, and priest upon the next day by It.
Rev. Bishop Maurice de ST. PaIais. He
served ~ Professor 81 81. Meinrad from
HE ordination I'LL July Is, 1866, also,
doing duty % visiting Priest ct Maria
Hill, 10 Spencer county. On July IS,
1866. be was appointed a. Priest In
charge ct jasper, aud the great growth
ofthe congregation is IN evidence OF The
faithfuIness Of bis Iabors. 1t has taken
: rugged and strong constitution. physi-
cally and mentally. TO endure the labors
he has gone through. But ~ be IL yet
strong, his congregation hope be may be
saved 70 them another Is years.
Very Rev. AbbCt FIntan Mund wiIer,
Of st. Meinrsd, preached to very large
congregation 1t St. Joseph's church on
"wednesday, In celebration Of Father
Fidelis' ordination. and High Mass was
celebrated. The children u the Sister,