Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-28
GONE TO HIS REWARD.
Death This Morning Of
Rev. Father Kane.
WAS ILL SEVERAL MONTHS.
Long and Remarkably Useful Career
of the Good Priest.

eoNotcu pdstOr OF ot. fhtrlckb Snurcn,
Valley Falls, died this morning at $50
O'Clock at the pastoral residence on Broad
street, Valley Falls.
The deceased clergyman was a sufferer
for some years from chronic rheumatism
and the immediate cause of his death twas
pronounced by his physician, DIR. O'Leary,
to have been heart failure.
He had been unable to perform the
active duties of his sacred ministry for
some months to the great regret of his
flock, and for the past four months he had
been confined to his room. Knowing that
his end was approaching, he was first
appointed five weeks ago andilast night tho
last rites OF the church of which he was
faithful child as well as minister, were ac-
corded him.
Around his death bed, which was calm
and peaceful, were grouped his devoted
assistants, the Sisters of Mercy, his aged
father who resided with him, and his
sister Anna who was his housekeeper.
The funeral arrangements are not yet
completed, but II Is understood that his
remains will be inferred In st. Francis
cemetery and that the funeral will take
place either on Saturday or Monday next.
1t is only little over year ago that he
celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary OF
his ordination to the priest hood on which
occasion tho Bishop of the diocese and
about one hundred of his clerical bret hren
were present.
lie was born in Ireland in l84l and was
consequently 81 years of age. When he
was years OF age he came with his
parents to this country and settled In
Providence where he received his pre-
liminary education in the Catholic schools
then established in that city, he having
never attended public school In his life.
In september, 1869, having decided to
hearken to the call Of his Creator, he feel
ing that he had vocation for the priest
hood he entered the Montreal College con-
Quoted by the fathers of st. Sulpice. lie
made his theological course at st. Joseph's
Seminary In Troy and was on May 26, 1896,
ordained TO the priesthood for tho Diocese
OF Hartford, which at that time comprised
the States of Connecticut and Rhode
Island and that portion OF Massac h usetts
now attached to the Diocese of Provi-
dence. II will thus be seen that his life
In the sacred ministry covered period of
20 years, months and 2 days.
His first appointed after his ordination
was to curacy at St. Augustine's Church
In Bridgeport, Conn, where he remained
until February, 1861, when he was assigned
to the temporary charge OF the Church OF
st. Charles, Woonsocket, during the i'll
ness Of the pastor. He continued there
until relieved by the recovery OF the pas
tor and Immediately returned to Bridge
port. Shortly after his return to that
place he was transferred to Waterbury,
Conn.,, as curate to Father Hendricken,
afterwards Bishop Hendricken, who was
the first bishop OF Providence, being con-
secrated in April, 1872, upon the division
OF the Diocese of Hartford.
In January, 1860, he was given his first
appointment as pastor by Bishop McFar-
land and the mission to which he was as
signed was that Of Our Lady OF Mercy,
East Greenwich, X. I. This was hard
mission at that time covering as it did a
large portion Of South county rs woli as
Kent County, and including WEXFORD,
Wakefield, Pcacedale and Narragansett
Pier. His parish was from 20 to 25 miles
In length, and possibly as wide.
The youthful clergyman set about his
work, however, with will and deter
mination TO extend the influence Of tho
Church and promote the glory of God,
and during the three years Of his ministry
many improvements were effected in the
territory under his spiritual charge.
Upon the death Of Rev. Hugh J. O'Reilly
on June 30, 1872, 1t became necessary for
Bishop Hendricson to select a pastor for
the parish and his thoughts Immediately
reverted to his former energetic curate of
Waterbury, and he rendered him the pas
torato Of 81. Patrick's Of Valley Falls.
The parish at that time extended from
Spragues Blocks and Cowdcn street to the
Woonsocket line, there being a church at
Valley Falls with pastoral residence, and
a mission church at Ashton.
This appointment was given him Just
20 years ago this month, and any person
who will look back over those 20 years can
see at a glance the marvellous progress
made in both a spiritual and temporal
sense by the church in that district during
that time. Notwithstanding the fact that
Mnnville and Ashton have both boen
severed from their parent parish and have
now independent and fourishing con-
grcgations, II seemed TO have no diminu-
tive effect on the fortunes OF st. Patrick =
parish.
On the contrary, an enlargement Of tho
church was necessary and on Thapksgiv-
ing Day, 1875, the church was rc-dedica-
ted after the enlargement and other sddi-
tions were made, giving II a seating capa-
city OF 800. But this In no way repre-
sents the number of tho communicates,
for while two masses used TO accommo-
date all with the smaller church when
Father Kane first came there, after the
withdrawal OF the French speaking Catho-
lies TO their own church In Central Falls,
II soon became necessary TO have three
masses overy Sunday, and two curates
were sent 10 assist him in the work OF
ministration instead Of one.