The Portland daily press., 1897-07-22

said:
Reverend and Beloved Father:
The sacred Scriptures tell us that "a
brotbar heined by a brother is as strong
| tower No other comparison Is there
that can fittingly and fully express what
Won. the father OF our souls, have been
| Ia us that you are as an e1nanation
from the heart of your Divine Master, q
Ii9ht to enlighten us, to guide our fiji all
bsSriys safely across the trouble sea Of
fine fill we reach the shore of our true
d How faithfully and preserveingly.
even amidst difficulties, you have served
your Divine Master, issknown Alright only
10 Him and to the angels who recorded
yonr deeds of love and willing sacrifices.
There is not walk in life from the high
est to the most lowly, that has not been
benefited and beautified by your holy in
1uence and unremitting care.
| But what renders you especially dear
to us is your devotion to Gods poor.
| The destitute you succored and supports
ed: to the sick you have brought that
boiv calm and health of spirit which ' 80
powerfully aided them to bear patiently
their physical sufferings; the friendless
Won have befriended; our heart wounds
YOU have healed; to the erring and the
wanderer you have ever been the watch
| full and gentle shepherd, unwayerinaiv
seeking to lead them back to life Of
rectitude and virtue.
us. two are PROMINENT our church and
school Well we know how you have toiled
4 to place here this beautiful temple Of the
| true and living God this sacred spot of
D eace and repose, where we may come to
| lay our miseries and burdens down,
| We can but imperfectly express orr an
probation and thanks for all you have
| Co., nY1r HI droy, Va L
gone labor and fatigue to procure them
the invaluable privilege Of Catholic
education.
| Our heartfelt thanks rise in blessings 10
our lips, and may your children forever
revere and bless your name. From matin
hour, when you daily brought our needs
to the sacred heart to plead for them, till
| the veSper star announced that the day
was done, we well know that our spiritual
wants and needs of our children have
been the alpha ansomega of all your actions.
On this, the 25th anniversary Of your
conservation to the service Of the altar.
we offer you our affectionate congratl,-
lations, and we wish you many more years
with us, and when it pleases the Divine
ward Of your zeal may your soul be borne
upward by angels, while the guardian
spirits of your flock ring bells Of eternal
| Jubilee, to rejoice in your joining the
heavenly inhabitants of Gods Kingdom.
| Fir. Decelles was greatly moved by this
expression of love and gratitude on the
part of his Pensioners. He thanked them
for their generosity and sympathy and
for the hearty cooperation they had ex-
tended to him during his many years
with them. He thanked those of other
faiths for their presence on this ocoa-
sion and extended a warm welcome to the
mayor and councilmen. He said those OF
all beliefs should join hands in the work
of Christ. He thanked God for the blessed
privileges of this free country. At the
close of his remarks the pastor was again
presented with bouquet.
The exercises closed with Te Deum,
sung by the full choir.
After the exercises in the church the
mayor and the city council were received
by the pastor and the bishop in the YES
try.
The evenings exercises closed with a
beautiful display of fireworks and band
concert by the Westbrook city band on
the lawn in front of the pastors resi-
dence.
Rev. Alexis Damase Decelless the jubi-
liant, was born in the parish of st. Hya-
cinthe, P. O., February 4, 1S4S. He pur-
sued classical course at the college of St.
Hyacinthe and his theological at the
seminary of the same place.
On July Fl, 1872, at st. Athanase, p.
O., was ordained priest and on the
following morning at ST. Johns, P. c.,
he officiated at his first mass. His first
| services were those of professor at ST..
Hyacinthe. There he remained until
January, 1878, when he came to the do
cese Of Maine, as curate of st. Peter IS
church, Lewiston. In July, 1879, Fir.
Decelles was raised to the dignity Of pas
tor, being assigned to the new church at
Westbrook.
was established there were only about
rs Catholic families there. They occupied
the attic in the Brigham block. Little
by little the mission church grew until
on Easter Sunday, 1879 the first mass
was celebrated in the present church,
then only whitewashed interior, while
settees did duty as pews. From this
small beginning has resulted the present
edifice, which in 1887 was remodeled SO as
to be scarcely recognizable, the parochial
residence adjoining, and in 1894 the I'M
posing brick and granite school building
just north of the church, at a cost of $25,
900. In September, 1894, this was occu-
pied by a community of the nuns of the
Presentation of Mary from ST. Hyacinthe.
ss.It may be well in passing to note the
evident sanctity of the Decelles family.
At the celebration of high mass this
morning were present five cousins, all
priests and all bearing the name Of De-
celles FIR. Decides celebrated at the
mass, then followed by Ri Rev Maxine
Decelles. bishop of st. Hyacinthe. This
reverend prelate was ordained with FIR.
Decelles, and is also celebrating his 25th
anniversary. The other members of this
worthy family are Rev. Canon p. q.
naca11ec also Of ST Hyacinthe. tha Raw