The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-06-06
AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO A
PASTOR.

lnis city WltneSSeu nearIlelt ana
spontaneous expression of appreciation
and love IN the enthusiastic and touch
ing welcome given TO Father FitzGer-
aid, on his return from the Holy Land,
after an absence of about seven months.
Late in the afternoon telegram was
received stating that "La TOurraine.n
The vessel on which he was expected to
return, had reached New York harbor
between ten and eleven that morning,
and that Father FitzGerald would be
home on the next train.
The news rapidly spread. Soon the
church, school and paroehial residence
were ablaze with light and decorated
with palms, floral designs and the ma
tional flag; while the railroad station
and the streets leading to it, were liter
ally blockaded with beaming and ex-
pectant faces. Even the calm dignity
of the Sabbath evening in country
town could not control the W hole-souled
expressions of welcome on this occa-
sion.
On the arrival of the train at S 80, the
church bells We're joyfully ringing,
while the great mass Of people pressed
forward from all points eager for the
first glimpse of or personal welcome TO
their pastor. Amidst greetings ON all
sides, the tall figure of the beloved pas
tor slowly made his way through the
throng which, for a time hindered the
progress OF the train. \ committee of
young men conducted Father Fitz-
Gerald to the rear of the station to--a
cab, and drove him directly 10 the
School Hall, whence the people all
followed.
AS he entered the hall there was a
burst of uncomfortable applause, inter
rupted by n song from the children,
"Welcome to our dear PASTOR Father
Hart, the acting pastor during the win
ter, formally welcomed Father Fitz-
Gerald TO his parish, and the latter adj
dressed his people, expressing in,,word,
tone aud manner his appreciation of
their sincere greetings and his own
happiness to be with them once more.
He briefly enumerated the sacred
shrines visited in and around Jerusa-
lem, touching upon the hard and print
tive condition of life found in the East,
which reference gave added force to his
later statement that the United States
was the best country In the world for
the fullest development of practical
Christianity. He then gave few Incl
dents of his travels, and told of the
many sacred shrines in which he had
said mass, especially for his whole
flock, and how at all times and in all
places, though bodily thousands oi
miles away, he was In spirit present IN
st. Johns Church, Lambertville, tax.
ing part in the usual ceremonies. An
address of welcome from the "little
ones and closing chorus, "Dream OF
Home" was followed by individual
which Father FitzGerald retired Ia his
| home
On his arrival In New York, Father
FitzGerald had the unusual honor of
the courtesy Of the port" extended to
him, and was met by friends off Fire
Island, who had gone down the bay on
the government cutter to meet the ola
| Tourraine."
|
Father FitzGerald is one of the most
active, progressive and learned priests
of the Trenton diocese. His theologi-
Seminary, where he was ordained.
After several years of hard and devoted
labor In the ministry ms II curate, lac
became II member of the pioneer class
of priest students at the Catholic Semi
nary, Washington, d. c.
In May, 1891, he was appointed TO
| his present charge. The business ability
and enterprising spirit of the new pas
tor was early appreciated by the people
of Lambertville for In n few months he
was in IA position financially TO begin
lIlt IlbNt iltttitt ulHltlhI WIN VI
building church. The Spring follow
ing his appointment the corner stone
of the church was laid, and in less than
one year the edilice was ready for
service.
The church stands on one of the lead
ing streets-a perfect gem of Gothic
| urs itantura aud a laglipu n4apnnnnpt
both TO the untiring efforts aud superb
taste of the pastor, and the whole
seuled, generous cooperation of all his
parishioners. One of the many sue
cessful efforts made by Father litz-
Gerald TO meet the financial needs OF
the parish, was the establishment last
year, of II church debt fund, designed
to take the place Of all fairs, - "sub
scriptions" and extras The revenue
derived from this source Is intended /,
be devoted directly to the payment o
the mortgage debt, which debt is prob
ably the smallest In the country com
pared with the building for which /
stands.
The excellent financial condition o
the parish and the beautiful church
desirable though they be, are the leas
important results Of Father Fitzter
aids nine years Of hard and constan
labor in this city. His opportunity AN,
still greater responsibility M Catholic
pastor and confessor to form, direel
and cultivate moral growth in thu
hearts ofall, old and young, was Away
fully appreciated by Father FitzGer
aid; and by constantly appealing to th'
purest motives, and by placing befOr,
the people the highest ideals Of life ant
religion, he had built in the hearts o
all the people inlpershable monument
which will live long after the beautiful
material monument on Bridge street Il
crumbling in decay.
Not only the parishioners Of 81