The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-26
AMONG TIE CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Father Kirsyin Presented with a
Beautiful GOLD CIaIfee,

rather kTrxvin Presented with a
Beautiful Sol ChaIice.
The services in the Catholic churches yes
terday were unusually impressive. In all
solemn high mass was celebrated at five
o'clock and at half past ten O'Clock. The
music was unusually good, especially at
st. Peters, st. Bridget's and st. Mary's.
All day long a steady stream of persons
entered the churches, many visiting the
cribs. The cribs this year are nicely ar
ranged.
FATHER KIRwEN's FIRST MASS.
The Rev. Patrick Kirwen, who was or
dalned Saturday at st. Patrick's Cathed-
raj. Newark, said his first mass yes
terday morning at eleven O'Clock in st. Jo-
seph's Church, this city. 1t was a solemn
high mass. Fathers Lewis and Brown were
respectively deacon and sub-deacon. Mgr.
Seton delivered the sermon. The church,
deliberately decorated for the Christmas fes-
tlval, was thronged even to the vestibules.
Eighty members of st. Joseph's Lyceum, of
which Father Kirwen was the first president,
wearing badges, marched to the church. ac-
c~onlpanied by the Setonia Fife and Drum
Corp, and occupied seats directly fronting
the sanctuary. Before the services were over
Father klrwen was presented with a beautiful
golden chalice by the members of the Lyceum.
The presentation speech was made by Presi-
dent o j. Walsh, who, accompanied by
Messrs. John j. Cone and John McKiernan,
advanced within the sanctuary, while the
members stood in semi-circles in front.
Father John McHale, now of st. James
Church, Newark, and other priests were in
attendance. IN accepting the chalice Father
kirwin, after thanking the members of the
Lyceum, said he would live worthy of the
priesthood and offer with great faith and de-
votion the Holy Sacrifice with the couse-
Grated chalce and paten.
The Rev. Father P. w. Smith was Master
of ceremonies during the mass. Mgr. Seton
was filed with joy. He said it was the hap
piest Christmas he had spent during the
eighteen years of his pastorate of the church.
The title of his sermon was 1.-THE HOLY
Family" He alluded to the happiness of be-
longing to the Holy Family. He referred to
the practical Importance of good Christian
marriages, and spoke strongly on the dignity
of the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Without any urging upon the part of the
Monsignor the collections of the various
masses yesterday amounted to $500, of
which $54 was contributed by the children
at the nine o'clock mass. The Monsignor
expressed himself as exceedingly well pleased
at the immense attendance at all the masses.
At the conclusion of the mass the congrega-
ton crowded to the altar rail and received
the young priests blessings.
CHRISTMAS AT ST. ~PATRICK'S.
The services at st. Patrick's Yesterday
were unusually impressive and were at
tended with that splendor which is ALWAYS
such a pleasing feature Of the Catholic cere-
monial. Solemn high mass was celebrated
at five o'clock, the celebrant being the Rev.
Father Hennessy, rector of the church, with
the Very Rev. Canon Hanley, of Ireland, as
deacon, and Rev. Father MacErlain sub
deacon. Every pew in the vast ediice was
filled with devout worshipers and the num-
Der receiving holy communion was very
\ 10rOn Tho nl111.ch pTaS hpi11iop+1rv il1,,r,;S
ated, while the high altar was re-
%splendent with lights, evergreens and
beautiful flowers. The music was ex-
cellent and the power of the grand
new organ under the skilled treatment
of Mrs. John Quinn, was brought out with
DRAFTED at half-past eight and half-past ten,
which were also well attended. The sermon
at the first two masses was preached BY
Father Hennessy, the Very Rev. Canon Han
ley preaching at half-past ten. The usual
Christmas collection was taken up at all the
masses to meet a heavy payment on the debt
of the church. dine january l. The dona-
tions at the crib are always given to the St.
Vincent de Paul Society for the poor of the
parish. Vespers in the evening was sung by
Rev. Father Lee of G~reenville.
GERMAN-AMERICAN FREE SCHOOL.
The fourth annualC Christmas concert and
ball of the Gel3nan-American Free School of
the Heights was held at Kessler's Hall last
evening. The West Hoboken Mannerchor,
the Central Athletic Club, the Social Lieder-
tafel, the Hudson City Turn Verein and
other well known German organizations as
| sisted in making it a great event. One of
the features of the entertainment was a PLAY
entitled 'sTischlein decke dich, Esel strecke
dich, Knuppel aus dem Sack in which O..
Freund, L. Barthelme, G.. Maisner, w. Mar
tin, M. ~Breitsprecher, c.. Trapinger, V. Her
mann and 3. Binder took part. Presents
were distributed among the pupils from a
mammoth Christmas tree.