The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-21
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CHURCH.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES.

| a magntncent ChurCh-Ftn0 Procession
and Imposing Ceremonial of Dedication
Columbus Day Celebrated by the Ro-
man Catholic Societies of Bennington
The new edlfice of the Church of st.
Francis de Sales is completed. The plan
calls also for parochial residence, but
only the church and chapel have thus far
been built, and to-day the building was
consecrated, according to the impressive
rites of the Catholic Church. Our read
ers are familiar with the progressive
steps leading up to the possession by
this parish of one of the finest church
buildings in the State, or in any other
State for that matter. The imposing
structure is at once credit to the peo-
pie, to the town, and monument to the
labors of Bishop Michaud, the faithful
pastor of st. Francis de Sales people,
now elevated to the Order of Bishops. 1t
was most fitting that he should be the con-
secrator of this church, and that so many
of our people should rejoice with him
in the completion of the work. Great
preparations had been made for this
event, and the edifice and the chancel
were most beautifully trimmed with
flowers. The day was all that could
have been desired save the cool air, and
|
At $50 a. m. a procession was formed at
the parochial residence, in the following
order.
Chief Marshal John Robinson and six aides, all
| mounted,
Bennington City Band
Parochial Schools,
First Division-lOo girls all dressed in white,
| Boys belonging to the Schools, $50 In number,
each carrying flag,
Ladies' Sodality Society, 125 In number, each
being dressed in black and wearing
FIN. A. B. Society, 100 strong, attired with
badges and regalias; with the Society
was its handsome banner.
A. o. of H.. TO men. each carrying banner,
Members of the Congregation ON foot,
Visiting Priests-some 20 in Lumber,
Rt Rev. Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of
Vermont, John s. Michaud, in carriage.
The line was quickly formed and, the
line of march as followed out was as
follows: Down Main to Depot street up
Depot to River, up RIVER to North,
down North to Gage, up Gage to School,
down School to Main, down Main to the
church when the services were held
Assembled in the church were con-
gregation of about one thousand peo-
pie. The school children, the Sodality
b. V. M. lin costume), the other soci-
cites, above, made a very fine appear
dLCO III 1lO anu
to the ecLat of the occasion. They were
also the subjects of especial blessing by
the Bishop during the services. The
ceremonies were the full canon of the
church, and as published in the invita-
tons were as follows:
DEDICATION CEREMONY
Rt Rev John Michaud, ID,
Assistants; Very Rev Thos Lynch and Rev
Cloarec,
EeieOTanS b. IT,. n sh. S% USui P
Phi Lechance,
Masters Of Ceremonies: Revs Thos Donohue and
Paquet,
Chaplains 70 RI Rev s Mchaud: Revs Gun Gun
bingham end Kelidou,
Address. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ev j Barrett
Musical Director ........ Rev Joseph Brelivet
Father Barrett, is one of the ablest
priests in the diocese. His address was
very complete and comprehensive SER
mon. No mere abstract will do it JUS
tice and so we must be content to give
the text and few of his leading
thoughts in connection with the day,
in accordance with the recommendation
of the Pope, and the government. He
preached from the words of St. Paul to
the Ephesians;
Christ loved his Church, and delivered him
self up for it that he might make it Holy:
Choosing II by the labor Of water in the |
Word of Life, that He might present it to |
Himselfa glorious Church."
In opening he gave touching allusion |
to Columbus, the dangers the bold navi- |
gator encountered in his effort to dis |
cover the New World, and to spread |
abroad the religion of the Cross. The |
Day we celebrate is one that's observed |
the Continent as a day of |
prayer and thanksgiving to God, and of
special glory and honor to the
Catholic church as giving to
the world the glorious dis
coverer of new land of promise. The
entire plan of the memorable event was
pictured forcibly and eloquently by
means of descriptive figures alluding to
the fact of this great local celebration
the Feast of the Dedication of the new
church. The preacher pictured in graph
ic diction the story of the sacrifices
borne and generously made to
erect this superb monument to the glory
of God, the untiring zeal of the pastor
the motive that should actuate in the
erection of churcher, the glory of the
real presence of God that shall therein
forever abide, and sanctifying the church
even to make the material edifice con-
tribute to the glory and power of God.
Then the preacher assembled to the con-
sideration of the material building of
the edifice and its relation to the King
dom of God on earth-the Catholic
treated it as the great puri-
fer and sanctifler and Regeneration of
Holy in herself, leading her
children to holiness in life, giving to the
world the most sublime example. This
portion of the subject was illustrated in
beautiful metaphor that must make a
asting impression on the congregation.
This evening the service begins at 73O,
Ind will be as follows:
solemn Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament, Coram Episcopo.
)ficiating Priest Rev. u y. corey. |
Deacon: Rev. VIM. Lonergan, Sub-deason; Rev.
F.J. Paquet.
faster Of Ceremonies. Rev. Chas. Provost.
)ermon. Rev. ID, y. O'SulllVan.
,haplAins to the Bishop the same As at the morn
ing services.
Dinner was served at the Partoral resi-