The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-11

Bishop Harkins has constituted st.
Joseph's parish in this city a permanent
rectorship, and appointed the pastor, Rev.
II. F. Kinnerney, the first permanent rec
tor. The announcement from the Bishop
was read at all the masses yesterday, and
came in the nature of surprise, which
was most agreeable one, indeed. AS q
result there was q good deal of rejoicing
and mutual congratulations in order.
Rev. Henry F.. Kinnerney was borr
near Montrath, Queens County, Ireland
January 26, 1S46, and is the son of John
and Betty Whalen Kinnerney. He came
to America in 1852 and in 1851, at the age
of Is years, entered St. Charles College,
Baltimore, Md, the nursery of so many
learned and jealous priests. In 1863 he
entered Niagara University finishing his
classical course at that institution and
carrying off first honors in his ,class. He
then took course in philosophy at Mon
treal College, where in 1866 he was crowned
by the Governor General Of Canada, having
taken the highest honors In his class.
Upon the completion of his studies
December Is, 1870, he was ordained to the
priesthood by Bishop Bourget. He had
charge of the Fountain street academy, or
preparatory school for the diocese of Hart
ford, at Providence until July 1872 and
during that time he had among his pupils
Rev. William Pyne, Rev. James Coyle,
Hugh j. Carroll and many others of pro-
world. He left the academy to accept the
appointment of st. Peters parish at
Sandwich, Mass, where he remained
nearly two years. 90.
The parish then included all of Sand
wich, Cape Cod and adjacent islands en-
bracing Nantucket and Martha's Vine
yand. Upon leaving Sandwich he was
transferred to the new st. Joseph's parish
in this city where he has labored ever
since and has met with such pronounced
success. st. Joseph's parish was set off
from st. Mary's parish in 1873 and en-
braces all of the territory on the east side
of the fiver from Cottage street to the
East Providence line.
The parish was struggling under a
heavy debt of $52 900 incurred In purchas-
ing site and laying foundation and
corner stone for the new church, and with
no means in sight for completing the
edifice or even carrying the work forward.
The debt, hard times and a congregation
composed largely OF people in humble cir
cumstances, practically without means at
the time, combined to make the outlook
anything but favorable for the parish, but
Father Kinnerney with his energy, skill
and persistency proved equal to the emer-
gency.
He was appointed to the pastorate jan
uary 20, 1874, and celebrated his first mass
on the first Sunday IN February in the old
Town Hall on School street. He awakned
a new interest and at once the courage of
the members of the parish revived. Money
was raised and on April of the same year
the basement of the church was completed
and mass celebrated there for the first
time. Continued success was the result of
the pastors labors and the debt Of the
parish was rapidly reduced, $4,000 being
raised the first year, while the construction
of the edifice went on.
During the first year church fair was
held which was attended by all OF the civic
and military societies of the State. This
fair netted $4,000 of which amount 5000
was contributed by Hon. George III. Wilson
of Providence.
In 1878 Father Kinnerney had brought
the financial problem Of the parish nearly
to an end. On the first Sunday In October
OF that year the church was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies, the collection on
that occasion amounting to $500 and I'm
1891 the belfry and tower were completed.
In 1887 Father Kinnerney purchased the
French estate on Walcott street for educa-
tional purposes and In 1892 commenced
the erection OF school building which
was completed In 1896 at cost of $4,000.
The old French residence was trans
formed into a house for the Sisters OF