Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-05-07
IN HONOR OF NARY.
Beautiful Sight at St.
MaN's Church.
ANNUAL MAY RECEPTION.
Children Lift Their Voices in Fervent
Songs Of Praise.
ANNUAL MAY RECEPTION

Yesterday the annual May reception OF
the Children OF Mary, the Young Ladies'
Sodality and the Holy Angels Society took
place at st. Mary's Church. rhe arrange
ments were carried out In an elaborate
style under the direction OF the Sisters OF
Mercy.
The exercises began at the o o'clock
mass, which was celebrated by Rev.
Z. II. McKenna. The Children OF Mary
and the Young Ladies' Sodality to
the number of $50 marched from
the basement and occupied seats In a body
In centre aisle, and at the close of the
service received Holy Communion. The
music OF the mass was most exquisite and
consisted of a special mass specially ar
ranged and written for the occasion by
the Sisters of Mercy I'm charge OF st.
Mary's school. Besides the mass special
hymns 10 the Blessed Virgin were also
rendered and one OF the Sisters presided
at the organ.
The celebrsnt OF the mass gave a short
instruction after communion on the sig.
niticance of the event. The weather dur
ing the forenoon was unpropitious, still
those who prepared for the afternoon
ceremonial were not In the least deferred
from participating In the exercises Incl
dent to the reception.
The members OF the sodalities and the
postulants began to arrive shortly after 2
O'Clock and from then until 3 O'Clock the
Sisters OF Mercy were kept busy arrang-
Ing and grouping them in the basement.
At that hour they formed In line and pro-
ceeded to the church proper in process
sional order ana took the seats I'm me cen
tire aisle which were reserved. There were
over 400 OF them .and they filled almost
that entire section OF the church.
Vespers were begun Immediately and
were sung bv Rev. j. II. Lennon. After
the "Magnificat, the ceremony of recep-
tion took place and was conducted by the
venerable pastor who takes special delight
In the doings of the children. The Chill
dren of Mary were first received, the Act
OF Conservation being read I'm clear and
distinct voice by Miss Annie Conlin.
The Young Ladies Sodality was next
received and the candidates for the Holy
Angels Society were the last, the Act OF
Conservation for the latter being read by
Miss Mary Blake very sweetly. IL was an
imposing sight to see the large mum ber of
postulants proceed to the altar rail two
by two to receive their ribbon and medal
which we're bestowed by Father Helligan.
After the ceremony OF invest ment was
concluded the children sang a beautiful
hymn to the Blessed Virgin entitled
"Queen OF May" Rev. =. f. McKenna
then entered the pulpit and preached an
eloquent yet withsl beautifully simple
sermon TO the children, especially on the
devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and
the dedication OF the month OF May by
the church to her honor.
The reverend preacher was attentivelv
listened to by the large congregation,
many of whom wese Obliged to stand
Throughout the entire service.
Benediction OF the Blessed Sacrament
was then given, the music being sung by
the children under the direction of the
Sisters. The elegant ostensorium pre-
sented to Father Halligan on the OCCASION
of his Jubilee was used as the pastor
decided that on this occasion nothing was
too rich, 1t being the day for the chill
dren ana should be made as memorable IA
possible The grand professional cross
was also carried, this being the second oc.
casion for both TO be used. After the ser
vice was concluded a procession was
formed headed by the crossboarer
and followed by the altar boys In
their neat surplices and cassocks
and tbey in turn followed by the Holy
Angels Society, the Children OF Mary end
and the Young Ladies Sodallty, all neatly
sttired, and marched from the centre Isle
around by the Blessed Virgins altar,
which was beautifully decorated and
lighted, and up the side isle to the vesti-
bule, issuing from the church by the
main door. They then passed up Pine
street and around the presbytery and
church to Grace street to the basement
door. During the procession the Children
OF Mary sang their beautiful hymns and
their sweet young voices showed the ex-
cellent training they had been given by
the Sisters who had charge OF them. IL
was sight long to be remembered and
was witnessed by a large concourse OF
people and st. MarY's has reason to be
proud OF yesterdays achievements.