The Irish standard., 1894-04-21
REV,FR. CHRISTIE.
"a Splendid Reception rendered the
Retiring Pastor Of Asoen-
sion Church
MONDAY EVENING, APRIL is.

The Attachment Existing Between
Pastor and People Draws Out
q Large Attendance.
Ascension church was crowded to it,
utmost capacity Monday evening by
members Of the congregation who hai
gathered to take part in the farewell re-
ception rendered to their pastor, Rev
Father Christie, who will begin his pas
torate at st. Stephens church to-mor
row. Every parish in the city was there
represented. many being present from
st. Stephen's-a goodly eprinkling Of
Protestants also being in the audience
Following the services in the church, al
which program of addresses was pre-
sented-the retiring pastor being the re-
clpient of purse of over $300-an in
formal reception took place at Father
Christie's residence, where he personally
said Goodbye to his former parishioners.
During an enjoyable hour here spent a
light repast was served by the ladies.
The church bore very neat appear
ance throughout. the altar was beauti-
fully decorated with flowers, and the al
tar space with palms, plants and cut
flowers. Seated within the altar space
we're the guests of the evening, among
whom we're many of the Catholic clergy
Of the city and outside, Fathers Cleary,
Soentgrath, Chareyre, Gerard, Soumis,
Yeager, Guyliott. Costello and Lonzon
being included in the number. Capt. M.
Whelan, as chairman of the committee of
arrangements, presided over the even
ing's program. The members Of Assem-
sion parish have greatly app reciated the
services of Father Christie, and that ap-
probation was testified to in subetan-
tial manner when Mr.. Whelan presented
to the reverend father thepurse contain
ing about $500 which had been sub
scribed by the people OF the parish as a
parting gift to HIM. The presentation
was made in neat speech, full of
warmth and feeling and voiced the sem
timent of all. The address Of Mr.. Whe-
Ian, which we give substantially, was as
follows:
Rev. FATHER-Four years ego you
we're appointed to establish parish IN
North Minneapolis, and now, by the Or
ders of your superior, you have been
taken from US to minister to another par
ieh in this city. This fact accounts for
tbe meeting tonight of the members Of
Ascension parish to express to you our
high appreciation of your services to us
as our pastor, guide and friend, and our
anfeigned sorrow and regret at parting.
There is to my mind peculiar bond
which attpches the Catholic to his pas
Tor. He is and should be considered a
member of every family in his parish, in
fact the parish is but one large family
with him as the spiritual head. Now
the parting with the head of the family
under ordinary circumstances is a cause
81 deep regret to every member OF it..
But our case as parish is not an ordin~
ary one. Let us look back for moment
at the record of the past. Four years
ago most of the territory embraced in
this parish was, spiritually speaking, a
wilderness; the faith was here but lying
dormant. It required some John the
Baptist to raise his voice in the wilder
aess, to quicken the tardy and careless
n the practice of their holy religion and
20 make it blossom as the rose for God
and Holy Church. This, Rev. Sir, has
been accomplished during your ministry
amongst us. You came amongst US an
,ntire stranger. There was no church
Of chapel, not even q house to shelter
YOU, and but for the kindness Of st. Jo-
sephs parish we would have no place
where you could celebrate holy mass for
us, This was the condition Of the new
PARISH of Ascension at that time. You
eft, sir, thriving parish at Waseca
where, after thirteen years of labor, it
vas in a condition to relieve you some
what of your burden. But duty called
and you came amongst us, leaving all to
begin anew the struggle of building up
again parish. Temporarily the prospects
we're gloomy indeed. Without means,
anacquainted with the members OF the
parish, you at once set to work and on
August Is, 1890, not four months after
your advent amongst US. you celebrated
holy mass in this new chapel. Few OF
Is know what task this was, the trials,
struggles and financial embarrassments
20 be overcome We are not rich peo-
ole but seconded you with loving hearts
and, az our means would allow, and
through your magnificent management
Of the means at hand, we have hsbita-
zion and q home. We prided ourselves
IN the results accomplished, looked for
ward to greater things in the future,
-h.~ ~. horoa roceivad sudden shock