The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-07
READ THEIR FIRST MASSES
Memorable Day in the History Of
Three Young Priests.
AT ST. PETERS CATHEDRAL
Rev. Daniel A. McCarty Read His Mass
Thcre-Rcv. Patrick f. l-avcllc In
St. Johns Church and Rev.
George Dixon Mt AvOca.

| REV. Daniel A. mccarthy and Rev.
Patrick f. Lavelle, two of the five
| young priests who Were ordained last
Friday morning at Carbondale by Rt.
Rev. Bishop O'Hara, celebrated their
first mass yesterday morning in this
| city, the former at st. Peters cathed-
| raj and the latter at st. Johns church,
Fig street, South Side.
The mass at the cathedral was
a solemn high one. Rev. Father
McCaIity was the celebrant; Rev.
N. j. .MciNnanus. of Providence. was as
sistant priest; Rev. John ]. O'Toole. Of
| Providence, deacon: Rev. Thomas +.
Carmody. of st. Thomas college, sub
deacon; and Rev. j. A. O'Reilly was
master of ceremonies. In the sanctu-
airy were Rev. James McAndrews and
Rev. NJ. j. Millane.
The sermon was preached by Rev. d.
]. MncGoldrck, s. j., president of St.
Thomas college. He spoke of the time
when the Savior was on earth and how
| the lord issued the invitation TO men to
enter the sanctuary and minister to the
spiritual warts of the people. The Lord
| to-day, tErough the apostolic succession,
invites men to accept the guidance of
HIS flock. The speaker said that the
priests are selected to labor in the vine
yard and they must follow the Master
| through veal and woe, sunshine and
shadow, sickness and plague in the dis
charge of the.r priesitly function. Fa-
ther MloCartys relatives received holy
communion at his hands, and the con-
gregation received his blessing after
| the mass.
AZ ST. John's Church.
At. 81. Johns church the congrega-
| ton was much too large for the ac-
commoda tion afforded, SO anxious were
all to be present ait Father Lavelle's
first mass. He is the first priest who
slatd his first mass in this church. Rev
f. j. Melley. pastor of the parish, was
assistant priest; Rev. j. A. Moffit, of ST.
! Johns, was deacon. and Rev. j. !.
Dunn. assistant at ST. Paurs, Green
Ridge, was sub-deacon.
| Father Mofit preached the sermon.
He began by saying that the people
should feel hcnored in having one from
their midst allied to the priesthood He
! besougnt the prayers of the Congrega-
ton for Father Lavelle and the priest
| hood in general. The Savior said. 81
am the good shepherd" and to prove
that He was the good shepherd He laid
down His life for His flock. The Savior
came on earth sent by the Father in
! heaven. and those who were called to
the sanctuary Of the altar then Were in
vested with the same power that the
| say" himself was possessed of, and in
| like ) 'nner 1t has come down through
| the a.. Cstolic succession.
| Father Lavelle gave holy communion
| to his mother, sisters. brothers and
relatives. and ait the end of the mass
gave his blessing to the congregation
Rev. Father Dixon's First Mass.
| Yesterday morning at 1890 o'clock,
| Rev. George j. Dixon, of ANoca, cele-
brated his first mass at st. Mary's
Catholic church in that place. The sa
cred edihce was throngei to its utmost
| in tl,.al
people from surrounding towns being
| present. Rev. j. j. Curran. of Car
! bondale. acted as deacon; Rev. L. f..
Gerrity, of Blossburg, sub-deacon; Rev.
! j. B. McC&toe, master of ceremonies,
and Rev. NJ. +. Crane, assistant The
| choir rendered selected portions of the
| different compositions of the mass. The
solos were sung by Misses Ii. Dempsey,
Lizzie Hines. and Patrick Dempsey,
James Ryder and Thomas Sullivan.
| Miss Lizzie Murphy was organist.
Rev. J. j. Curran, formerly of Avoca,
delivered an eloquent and powerful
sermon. which touched the hearts OF
his listeners. He chose for his text
You have not chosen Me: but l have
| chosen you. Go ard bring forth fruit,
and whatsoever you ask of Me shall be
granted" He dwelt at length upon the
dignity of the priesthood and power
| conferred upon those whom God has
chosen to labor in His vineyard. He
prayed for blessings on the young
priest that he may live long to spread
| the Gospel, administer to the sick and
afflicted, and encounter all the difficult
| ties that minister Of the Lord must
| contend with.
Rev. NJ. F.. Crane spoke words of con-
! graduation to the congregation of St.
| Mary's and toh1 them that they had
occasion to rejoice that the Lord has
| already elevated three of their young
! men to the sacred office and also re-
| quested the prayers of the congregation
In their behalf. After the mass. Rev.
Dixon bestowed special blessings on all
| present.