Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-12-03
From Thirty Families the Con-
gregatiOn Has Grown to
Eight Hundred.
One of the Most Progressive and
Prosperous Parishes in
Louisville.
ALSO THE HOME OF MACKIN COUNCIL


elias church and the feast of St. Cecil
liza were celebrated at St. Cecilia's church
on last Sunday with solemn high mass,
at 10 O'Clock. The Rev. Father Deepen
was ce,ebrant, Father Bachmann deacon
and Father Crane sub-deacon. Father
Brady, the rector, was master of ceremo-
MES. At 7:30 in the evening solemn YES
pers was sung by the Rev. Father Miller,
assisted by Fathers Bachmann and Bona
venture. Father Deepen preached the
sermon at mass on the church of St.
Cecilia, and in the evening delivered
lecture on the feast of the saint of that
name.
The choir was under the direction of
Miss Agnes Richter, and she was assisted
by Misses Henrietta Bauer, Paula Rosen
Margaret Everin and May Zinninger as
sopranos; Misses Theresa Rosen, Con-
stance Richter, Cecilia Recktenwald and
Mrs. D. Schuler, contraltos; Messrs. A.
Emmettsberger, J. Gottbrath, H. Lau-
cher, tenors; Messrs. George Recktenwald
and VIM Lawler bassos; Misses Henrietta
Bauer, Paula Rosen, Theresa Rosen.
Messrs. H. Emmettsberger and George
Recktenwald, soloists. They rendered
music of high order
st. Cecilia's church was erected during
the years of '73-74. Ground was broken
in September, 1878, and the corner stone
laid in November of the same year. The
first mass was celebrated in the fall of
IA. The church was built OH what was
then known as Slevin's park, east of the
old Salt river road, now Twenty-sixth
street, nearly opposite St. Johns Gene
terry. The ground OH which it stands was
owned by Thomas Slevin, who at one
time offered it to the city to be used as a
mark. but as it was at that time sur
rounded by ponds the city didn't accept
of it. A few years later the ground was
given to the Right Rev. Bishop of this
diocese, who had the church erected for
the Carmelite Fathers, with the intention
of converting it into college.
At the time the church was built there
were about thirty families living i'll the
parish, while at the present time nearly
500 reside there. Of the original fami-
lies the following are still living and
are members of the parish: Pat Bannon,
Dan Quill, Conrad Wentzell, John Ker-
berg, Michael King, Peter Tevelin, Thos.
Nohelly, John Richardson, w. H. Royce,
c. Schneider, d. Dempsey, Tim Harring-
ton and c. w. Smith. The first director
of the choir was Mrs. Hannah Smith, the
first organist Miss Harris.
From 1873 to 1875 the church was UNI
der the direction of the Carmelite faith
ers, the first pastor being Father Feehan.
His lodging-room was over the office i'll
the church. 1t was not until 1877, when
Father Rock was sent as rector, that
they had PASTORS residence. The par
ish was so scattered during Father Rock S
time that he rode horseback in making
his parish calls. He owned fine black
horse that he called Pat, but the boys OF
the parish went him one better and
called him "Pattie Rock"
In 1879 the Passionist fathers took
charge, with Father Aloysius as rector.
Father Ryan succeeded Father Aloysius
and Father McHenry succeeded Father
RYAN. In 1888 the secular fathers took
charge. Father Mcconnell was the first
to be rector He was succeeded by the
late Father Mackin, whose death in
1898 is still fresh in the memory of the
parishioners. The present rector, Father
Brady, has been in charge since 1898.
There have been 1925 baptisms, about
200 marriages and 26O deaths registered
since the establishment of the parish
The first person to be baptised was Cath
crime Pearl Parsons, daughter of Mr.. anc
Mrs. Joseph Parsons. The first marriage
to be solemnized was between Mary Kill
leen and William NtcCue.
The Sisters of Charity started schoo
in the rooms under the church in 1877
which they still continue. When the
church was built there were no streets
made north of Main nor west of Nine
teeth. When attending night service!
the parishioners carried lanterns. Ole
residents we'll remember when two boy!
PLAYING truant from school were drowned
in pond in the vicinity of the church
At present the church is surrounded by
streets and fine residences, all in twenty
FIVE years.
ST. Cecilia's is the home of that popu
lar Catholic society known as Mackii
Council, which, like the church, ha
grown from forty members, who organ
lied it in 1892 under Father Mackin, t
about 300, its present membership.
A number of Improvements have BEEF
made in recent years, notably FIN
pastoral residence and new steel belfry
The old belfry, which was erected at tn
time the church was built, was woodel
one, and many hard thump the write
has had against its sides when ringing tn