The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-11
CHURCH MILITANT
St. Paul's R. G. Congregation
Preparing to Welcome
Chaplain Mcdowell Of
the Fourth Vol
unteers.
A SoLDIERLY PRIEST
Patriotic Career of the Green
vile Rector - Among
the Churches.

Now that the tourtu view $780,
Volunteer Regiment is coming home the
parishioners of st. Paul's CATHOLIC Church
of G~reenville are preparing to give tneir
rector, the Rev. Joseph j. Mcdowell q
rousing welcome after his absence OF a.
most a year. When the war broke oue
Father Mcdowell was among the hrst "
volunteer as chaplain. Being promised an
appointment by then Acting Governor
voorhees, if an opportunity presented
itself, he was accordingly given the ocn-
mission when the Fourth New Jersey
Volunteer Regiment was ORGANIZED. in
went with the regiment TO sea Girt ~
then to the several camps in the SOUTH
where he is now. ~.
II was rumored in clerical circles that
Father Mcdowell would join the regular
army when the regiment OF whicn ne -
now chaplain is disbanded His exact IN
tentions, however, are as yet unknown.
The Rev. Father Peter Reilly, VINO Is
now in charge of ST. Paurs. said iast
evening that he had not nearo from
Eather Mcdowell as to what ne VIII ~.
He added that he thought the chaplain
would return to take charge OF the PARISH
when the regiment returns. al least
] expect him. he said.
Father Mcdowell is a thorough parrot,
and his patriotism repeatedly asserted
itself. While a cufate at st. Jonns
Church in Orange, he took such an inter-
est in military affairs that he was ap-
pointed chaplain of the Third Battalloh,
N. G., N. J., which was then a separate
organization. He served in that positon
until the reorganization of the Guard OF
the State took place and the Third Bat
TALON was merged into the Second Regi-
ment.
Father Mcdowell stands more than SIX
feet in his stockings. He is slender IN
build and as straight as an arrow. he Is
an excellent type of a soldier. chaplain
Mcdowell. as he is now called was ap-
pointed rector of st. Paufs Church short
" after the demise of the late Fatner
Tighe. He is a Hudson county man, nav
ing been born in Hoboken about thirty
six years ago. His early education was
received in the schools of that city his
studies for the priesthood began IN 81
Francis Xavier College, New York City
Upon graduating from that institution he
entered Seton Hall College. at South
Orange
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger took a
special interest in this curly headed young
man ana WalcH6Q HIS plO6ICoo Wy Nfc
~. He completed his studies at Seton iiai
when not yet twenty-three years Old, OF
two years before he could be ordained
However, the Bishop may reduce the Time
limit to twenty-five years and ten months
by special ~dispensation. u Father
Mcdowell had to wait still two months
before being ordained.
His first appointment was as curate OF
st. Michaels, this city, and during his
brief stay there became very popular
From that parish he went to st. Johns
Church, Orange. Bishop Wigger had found
a particular place for him and in order te
prepare him for it brought him nearer
diocesan headquarters.
Early in 1895 Bishop Wigger notified hin
that he would rave to go to Rome te
study canon law and prepare himself as 2
diocesan attorney. He was released from
his euracy in May of thai year, and he
went to st. Josep5s, Newark, to study
italian. under the Rev. Father ODonneil
Father O'Donnel1 studied under thu
Jesuits of Rome and received the de-
grees D.. c. C. and L. c. G.. When ne
returned in the spring of last year the
Bishop gave him charge of all the &C.
clesiastical legal questions of the diocese
When the Bishops eonsulters selected
him as Father Tighe's successor 1t tooF
him some little time to decide upon ac
cepting the appointment. He told the
Bishop that he would i've preferred {
smaller parish, where he would nave less
work and more time in which to study
hui he finally accepted and has done ex
cellent work in reducing st. Paufs large
aaht