The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-27
ST. BRIDGE1'S MOURNING
The News of Father Corr's
Death Casts a Gloom
Over the Parish.
THE LIFE OF THE LATEPAST0R
"God and Country" Was His
Watchword-His Work In
This City.

1t was with profound feelings of sor-
low that the Catholics OF jersey City,
and especially the parishioners of St.
Bridget's church, learned last night of
the death of their beloved pastor,
the Rev. Patrick NJ. Corr, at an hos
pital in Dublin, Ireland. On July
1st Father Corr sailed from this
city for the land of his birth, hoping to
recuperate his shattered health, but the
hard work that characterized his life
since coming to st. Bridget's had SO I'M
dermined his health that the ocean
voyage proved only too fatal. He had
the consent of Bishop Wigger to remain
away till he had fully recovered, aud no
one Will miss him more than his Bishop.
He was close friend of the Bishop, and
firm supporter of his views. Among
the priests he was looked upon as one OF
the most Influential and professional
IN the diocese. He was pro-
found student, aud one or the best pulpit
orators in the Catholic Church. He WAS
decidedly patriotic and SECOND only 10
his love for his Church and adopted
country was his love for his native land.
He never missed an occasion to raise his
voice in behalf OF the wrongs of Old
Erin, and his limited means were ever at
the command OF the Irish leaders across
the sea.
Father Corr had been very Ill for sew
eral months before he sailed for abroad,
and the ocean voyage was made under
the advice of his physician. The voyage
was. however. too great for his strength,
and he was i'll from the time he
started. When the vessel reached port
Father Corr was taken to the Sisters
Hospital at once. He was attended by
careful nurses, but they conld only eass
his suffering uutil the RAPIDLY approach
ing end arrived. Father Corr died
Tuesday last, and he will be hurled in
Dublin by his relatives who live there.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
| Patrick M. Corr. was born thirty. eight
years ago In County Cavan, Ireland, aud
he was graduate of the well known
seminary in the diocese of Kiltnore. He
entered Seton Han College Ia 1876. and
graduated with high honors in 1873. He
was Immediately afterward appointed
Assistant Pastor Of the St. James
Church, Newark. which position he filled
four years. He left there to become the
assist MT of the Rev. Father Ssnez of ST.
Mary's parish, his city. After being
with Father SeneZ four years, Bishop Wig
ger appointed the young priest pastor Of
Holy Trinity Church. Hackensack. Here
Father Corr mHde most enviabe record
for himself. UDder his guidance Cathol-
icity in Hackensack hourisbed. Several
church societies were organized, oSe of
the most worthy aud Influential being
the Young Mems Total Abstinence So
ciety. Father Corr was staunen adro-
cate of total abstinence. and for several
years was Vice President of the State
Total Abstinence Union.
Father Corr labored in Hackeusack for
four years, aud then was appointed by
Bishop Wigger to succeed the late Father
Hanley as Pastor Of st. Bridget's.
When he took hold of ST. Bridget's he
found he had difficult task before him.
The parish was rapidly growing, and the
need OF parochial school facilities and a
clubhouse of young men soon made it
self manifest. Father Corr went to work
with will. He became very popular
with the parshioDers. and soon his
zealousness made itself mantle st in the
improvements of the church pr operty.
The parochIal school was erected, the
church beautlied, new railing erected.
aud otherwise the church property inn
proved. The choir OF St. Bridget's, un-
der DR.. Desserts leadership, is one OF the
best in the city.
One of the most lasting monuments to
Father Corr's zeal will be the five build
ings of St. Bridget's Catholic Lyceum, on
Montgomery street. This building has
been described in detail in The NEWS, as
also its history and the history of the
| organization. All this WORK was due to
Father Corr's work. The members will
greatly mss him.
MERITED TRIBUTES.
When Father Corr left Newark, the
| Daily Advertiser of Newark had this to
say of him.
'The Irish people of Newark are panied to
learn that the Rev Father P. N. Corr, assistant
priest at st. James Church, has been removed
TO Paterson. His strong and eloquent ad-
vocacy of the cause of his native land as rep
resented by the present struggle for the rights
| of free men, has endeared him to his country
| men throughout the community"
When Father Corr was appointed 20
| st. Bridget's the Weekly Republican of
| Hackensack thus spoke of him:--
TIE people of Hackensack, or at least very
| large portion OF them, have learned with deep
| regret of the removal of the Rev. Patrick Corr
| from the Holy Trinity Church. At the same
| Il y will rejoice that the change is one which
| places the reverend gentleman In field where
| his fine abilities will nave proper scope, and
where his labors are calculated to bring greater
| honors than could be hoped for in the small and
| unimportant parish of Hackensack
At convention held in Dublin, in 1881,
| Fai her Corr was one of the speakers
| Michael Davitt. in speaking OF Father
\ Corr's address, worte:-
! ''ghe orator Of the day, or rather Of the three
| days of the conference, was the Rev Father
| Corr of Newark. N j., man to put a tongue in
| any or every wound of Cesar or make the
stones of Rome quite mulinous, aye. quite as
| great as Brutus. His speech, or Grafton ratner,
| may not read much better than those of his
| fellow orators. but the actual living speech
| could not be reproduced on paper. He is q
| young Irishman who has made America his
home. II you have few more anything at all
! like him you are not to be much pitied II the
speech does not count much in reading the
| reporters PROBABLY dropped their pencils amid
| the general excitement and enthusiasm. Father
| Corr is, indeed. master Of sentences
1.-The best speaker at the convention was the
| Rev. Father Corr of Newark. N. j."
| MASS OF REQUIEM, TUESDAY.
| At the parochial residence OF st. Brid-
gets Church on Montgomery street to-
| day the shades are drawn. Inside a
deathhke stillness prevails. Father
Corr's death has cast gloom
over the house as throughout the whole
| parish. Out of respect to the memory
| OF Father Corr solemn high mass OF
| requiem will be celebrated in the church
| next Tuesday, morning, commencing at
ten O'Clock. and Bishop Wigger will be
present. 1t is not known yet who will
| officiate.
The members OF the Lyceum will take
| suitable action.