St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-11
RITE OF CONFIRMATION
CONFERRED ON LARGE CLASS AT ST..
VINCENT De PAUL.
THE CHURCH is OUT OF DEBT.

sssA
Address-Church Not Large
Enough to + old the Throng-
Enterprise of Christians Has
Founded a Fine Church in
Face of Great Obstacles.
The good and devout Catholics of the
parish of ST. Vincent de Paul were out
in full numbers yesterday to celebrate
the fifth anniversary of the establish
ment OF their church and parish. And
from retrospective point OF view they
have good reasons to feel elated and to
be possessed of high degree Of pride
over the results obtained by them in the
brief time that marks their existence as
an independent congregation.
Five years ago the parish. situated in
the Eighth ward, had but handful of
followers of their faith and yet these
undertook to establish for themselves q
separate parish and to build them q
church. Archbishop Ireland had grave
reSgivngs as to the ultimate results
and greatly doubted the possibility OF
success. 1t was then his intention to
create a mission district and attach it to
some one OF the neighboring parishes.
But the enterprising parishioners did
not accede to this idea, and proceeded
to carry out their original plans.
BY dint of energy and perseverance
they Lave succeeded admirably. and
proudly celebrated their anniversary.
Five years ago the Church of st. Vim
cent de Paul was in debt for its real
estate TO the extent of 5000. But at
the close of Yesterdays exercises the
committee surrendered the title to
their handsome chapel and parsonage
TO Archbishop Ireland entirely free of
debt. Aud in addition to the wiping
out of the debt, the parish has made
permanent improvements on its prop
erty 10 the extent of $4,000. all of
which is visible in the tine-looking
buildings and grounds Five years ago
Father CoSgroye undertook to establish
a parish. when he could count scare
a hundred families in his district, and
Row lie has over SEQ families enrolled.
The church was altogether too small
to hold the many people who sought
sNotSlNuSs potH auu
night. In the forenoon solemn high
mass was performed, with Rev. Father
Moinahan as celebrant, Rev. Father
Drobeck, deacon: Rev. Cahiil, sub
deacon. and Rev. Father Cosgrove,
pastor of the church. as master of GER
monies. Excellent music was rendered
under the direction Of William Manner.
In the afternoon Archbishop Ireland
was present to administer the solemn
rites of confirmation 10 1873 communi-
cants, the greater portion of whom were
little children. Between 2 and o'clock
these formed in line in front of the
parish house, ard marched as an escort
to the clergy to the church. The pro-
cession entered to the music of the
organ and singing of the choir. Num-
beers of the friends Of the young people
were turned away for want of room. As
soon as all were seated. Archbishop Ire
land arose and addressed the congrega-
ton. saying in substance:
"Iou are this day assembled to re-
ceive the holy sacrament of contirma-
tion, and this day should therefore be
one of the greatest days of your lives.
1t is today that you will receive your
commissions as soldiers OF the Lord.
While we were not able to be with the
apostles at the time they received this
precious gift from the Master himself,
we can re ceive it by His commandments
IN the same spirits. The ministers of
the church are the chosen successors of
The apostles, and at their hands the
solemn rites are now performed. Your
souls Will he elevated and revived and
your lives lifted higher 10y virtue of this
beautiful ceremony.
The true soldiers of Christ arc
the enemies of all sin. Sin is the de-
stroy-r of our souls. 1t st'rs up our
passions and leads us into destruction
sud to death. We come in contact with
he world and constantly see and hear
I'll sin. There are many people in this
world who are not satisfied with offend.
ing God. but who try to lead others
astray. These you must not heed, but
travel on the road to righteousness.
There are many temptations that beset
US. But we should and must say mo-
to all and 60 about our own duties.
whenever we are able to say mo- to all
sin aud temptations then we are true
soldiers of the Lord. The true Chris
sian should say yes to all 8 His COM
mandments and mo- to all sins. Those
Wno are not with God are against Him:
there is no middle way. We either
serve heaven or serve hell. The good
Catholic should always be proud of his
church and proclaim to the world that
ne Is Catholic. And the GOOD Catholic,
above ali things. should he model of
virtue, faith and purity.''
Alter the arclbiSop concluded the
beautiful ceremony of confirmation was
administered TO the waiting class, be-
ginning with the youngest. The little
girls were all becomingly attlred in
white dresses, and wore wreaths upon
their heads.
After the ceremonies all gathered in
front OF the parish house, and Arch
bishop Ireland. accompanied by the
several clergymen who attended him,
stepped upon the veranda. An in
formal reception followed. and the re-
septlon committee, consisting of Messrs.
&atrick NJ. Moroney, John Fitzgerald
and Michael Nolan. stepped forward,
and through its chairman, Mr.. Moroney,
presented an address Of greeting to
Archbishop ireland. The address re-
cited briefly the history of the parish
and the efforts made by its members,
and welcomed the high dignitary of the
church to their midst. Archbishop Ire
land feelingly replied to the address.
and at times mingled mirth with
pathoS.