Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-25
At ST PATRIcK's CHURCH
A Glass of over 500 Children Confirmed
Inv fS;sbon Tiernev.

by Bishop Tierney.
The words of Hon Bourke Cochrane ut
| tered on the occasion of the opening of
| the Catholic educational exhibit in New
York last week are expressive of the feel
i ings of Catholics when witnessing such
ceremonies as took place in st Patrick S
church last night. GAS Catholics we are
never so proud of our church as when we
see her engaged in the work of preparing
the youth of this country for the burdens
and duties of life. AS, citizens we are
never so confident of the destiny which
| lies before this republic as when we see
the citizenship of the future that rests
upon morality and enlightenment" The
event was the occasion of the visit of
Right Rev Bishop Tierney to the church
for the purpose of comforting the sacra-
ment of confirmation on a class of 1856
children.
About 1880 o'clock the different societies
| connected with the church formed a
square in front of the residence of the Rev
J. FL. Duggan, through which the bishop
| passed on the way to the church, escorted
by the Rev Fathers Duggan, Mulcahy,
Bourret and Downey of this city and Rev
Fathers O'Donnell of Watertown, Rodden
of Bristol, DAILY OF Thomaston and Elem
ing of Poquonock, the st Thomas cadets
which lent additional charm to the i'm
pressive scene. Inside every available
space was occupied. The choir sung
some appropriate selections. The work on
the altar was complete triumph, and as
the bishop and clergy entered the sane
tuary, preceded by the acolytes, the scene
was one which will long be remembered
by those who had the pleasure of witness
ing it. The bishop occupied seat on a
canopied throne, with the Rev J. A. Null
cahy at his right hand and the Rev NJ. B.
Rodden on the left. The bishop addressed
himself to the children in words which
showed that he is not only profound
thinker, but is endowed with the happy
faculty of imparting the knowledge which
he possesses to others in language which
the simplest child of the church cannot
| fail to understand. His explanation to the
| children of the nature of the sacrament
which they were about to receive was
clear and logical, and his enunciatjon so
distinct that his words could be heard and
| understood in the most remote corner of
the spacious edifice. The confirmation
class consisted of 1872 girls and 154 boys.
The girls were attired in white with
wreaths and wells, and as they marched in
| files to the altar railing and knelt to re-
ceive the sacrament the scene was very i'm
pressive. The boys were neatly dressed,
with white rosettes pinned on their arms,
and conducted themselves in a manner
which reflected credit on themselves and
those who trained them for the occasion.
Rev Father Lawless directed the move
ments of the children and Miss Annie
Begnal and Martin Brophy acted as spon-
sors. Fathers Duggan and Mulcahy as
sisted the bishop.
When the ceremony WAS concluded the
bishop again addressed the children, tell
ing them that before receiving the sacra-
ment they were but children, now they
were soldiers, and as a soldiers first duty
is obedience he eXhorted them to be ever
mindful of their duty to the legally con-
stituted authorities of their church and
their country, and reminded them of the
debt which they owe to their parents and
their pastor for the Jealous care which had
been bestowed upon them by intoxicating
into their young minds sufficient knowl-
edge of the faith of Christ to enable them
to approach the sacraments with the
proper disposition. The bishop them
spoke to the parents, reminding them Of
the great responsibility which still rested
upon them to see that the children who
had just been confirmed should continue
in the Sunday school and be further in
structed in their religion. He also re-
ferred to the great work which had been
accomplished in st Patrick's parish since
its formation. At the beginning, he said,
it was small, but it has since grown to be
one of the largest and most prosperous
parishes in the city. He expressed the
hope that it would continue to grow and
prosper in the sight of God as well as in
the sight of men. He then addressed the
children on the great evils resulting to
society from the abuse of intoxicating
drinks, and requested all who had been
confirmed to promise to abstain from its
use for ten years, and do all in their power
by word and example to prevent the vice
of int; importance in others. It would be &C
ceptable to God and a blessing to them
selves. He also advised parents and
others to follow the example and instruc-
ton given to the children. The bishop
then recited the pledge, the children re-
peating it aloud. The exercises concluded
with benedietion of the blessed sacrament
by the bishop. Father Duggan, his as
sistant, and the Sunday school teachers
have just reason to feel proud of the re-
suit of their labors.
This afternoon Bishop Tierney went to
Watertown accompanied by Rev Fathers
Mulcahy and ODonnell, where he will
confer the sacrament of confirmation upon
a class of children this evening.