The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-01
LAID AT REST.
The Late Father Hennessy's
Body Inferred in the
Shadow Of St.
Patrick'S
SIMPLE CEREMONIES AT TIE GRAVE
Bishop Wigger and Prominent
Clergymen Present
Crowd Witnesses the
Proceedings.

Very simple and unostentatious were the
ceremonies that attended the laying at
rest the body of the late rector of st.
Patrick's Church, the Rev. Father P. Hem
messy. The services were held this morn
ing at ten O'Clock, and the members Of
the parish turned out en- masse to honor
the memory of their late rector, friend and
adviser.
Threatening though the weather was,
the ardent affection held by the good
people of st. Patrick's Church for Father
Hennessy could not be checked. and an
nour before the time set for the arrival
OF the body from the Catholic cemetery
on West Side avenue the crowd waiting
at the church numbered over a thousand.
Captain Mckaig was there, and Sergeant
Finlay with squad of twelve patrolmen
took care that no accident occurred. Six
detectives from Headquarters also min
gled with the crowd
While waiting for the arrival of the body
many remarks were heard in praise of
the dead pastor, and many "reminiscences
were told of his famed charitable deeds.
Father Hennessy was at adj times ready
and willing to extend hand to the needy
and the poor of his parish never sought
aid in vain. Even while on his deatflbed
he was constantly thinking of his par
iShioners and planning for their welfare
Father Sheehan, his assistant, received
daily instructions to see that none of st.
Patrick's needy went unhelped-
1t was $50 when the hearse containing
the body turned from Bramhall avenue
into Ocean avenue Following. the hearse
members of the Memorial Committee Of
+. F. o'Hsars is Z. I, RshifI, Y. o'MaTa. !. j
Pierce. j. Quinn and Nicholas Pierce. This
committee had complete charge Of the re-
Inoval Of the body from the cemetery to
the church. The solemn procession drew
ately a passage was cleared from the
curb to the church gate.
The grave was ready to receive the
body. Many of the on-lookers noticed in
the; grave what seemed to be strange
coincidence. When the grave was ordered
dug, the orders given were that the grave
the church and the foot to the curb
ing. 1t was found that this was not in
keeping with hhe original plan, which
Were that the grave should. be dug par
two graves were dug. and one crossing
the other gave the appearance Of a cross.
Standing about the grave and chanting
men:-The Right Rev. Bishop Wigger,
Chancellor of the Diocese Wallace, the
Right Rey Monsignor Seton, the Rev.
Fathers Harpes, |. P: Whelan. J. G.
R. W, Smith and E. A. Kelly. The
members of the Memorial Committee re-
moved the coffin from the hearse and
carrying IL between the line OF chanting
priests, stopped at the edge of the grave.
The Rev. Father C. M. Carroll, the
present rector of st. Patrick $, blessed
the grave while the assembled parishion-
sers removed their hats and hurriedly
whispered a prayer. The sight was a
soul-stirring one. Young and old, rich
and poor alike in earnest devotion, and
while Father Carroll blessed the grave
the eyes of many were upon the coffin
about to be placed in the grave.
The ceremony of the blessing of the
grave having been completed, the coffin
was lowered and Father Carroll throw
ing lump of clay into the grave, COM
mended the dead to his Maker.
The interment being over the church
doors were thrown open and an anniver-
saTy mass was celebrated. The Rev.
Father Sheehan, assistant pastor of st.
Patricks, was celebrant. The Rev. ]. J.
Boylan was deacon and the Rev Henry
Murray was sub-deacon. No sermon was
preached, as it is not customary to preach
at an anniversary mass.
The grave is on the northwest corner of
the church property in the shadow of the
huge tower. The memorial tablet will
be placed in position Immediately It will
bear the name of Father Hennessy and
the date of his death.
The grave was dug under the direction
Of Humphrey Price, who supplied the or
iginal stone with which the church was
built. Undertaken P. H. Kilroy had
charge of the burial.