The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-28
DEATH OF A NOBLE PRIEST.
Rev. John c. Ahern Passes Away In
MINNEAPOLIS.

Kew JOHN Z. Anetn PASSES away IN
Minneapolis.
After long and Jealous service in
the priesthood, in the declining years OF
an honorable, worthy life, Father John
c. Ahern was called Monday, July 10,
to give an account OF that stewardship
which it had been his life work to faith
fully fulfill. In March last Father
Ahern came to Minneapolis from Big
Stone City, S. D., to seek relief from a
painful malady which he contracted a
few years ago. The skill Of the ablest
the city could afford was I'M
able to assuage the pain or check the
ravages of the disease, and death
brought that relief to the afflicted priest
which science denied.
Youghal, county Cork, ireland, was
Father Ahern's native city. The Ahern
family, for generations resident in the
county Cork, is distinguished for its
many scholarly men and accomplished
women. From it's members the church
gained many brilliant, noble priests;
among the ecclesiastics who honor that
name are noted bishops, prominent
archbishop, and number OF estimable
nuns. So worthy family must prize
at its fullest the value OF broad educa-
ton. Therefore, Father .Ahern was
sent in early boyhood to Paris, where
he devoted himself to study i'll the Justly
famed Irish College OF the French CAPT
tai. AS professor in theological COL
lege OF France he won rcpute as a
scholar and teacher Later in Dublin
he was given holy orders and for the
succeeding twenty years he fulfilled his
priestly Office in his native country.
But the spirit Of the missionary was
strong in the young priest. The mis-
sion fields Of the unsettledwestcrn states
of America promised more to his cour-
ageous nature, his hopeful tempera-
mcnt, than the old established pasto-
rates of Europe And thus it was that
nineteen years ago, after occupying for
four years a professors chair in the
Dominican College of Kentucky. Fa-
Their Ahern assumed the arduous but
leave1-blessed task of keeping alive the
wavering light OF religion in the rough,
sometimes savage, men of the plains.
In the various mission posts of the then
thinly-settled Dakotas the cloquence,
the ardor. the benign spirit of the Cath
Ole priest was deeply felt His influ-
ence was wide. his work shall surely
endure. His memory will be revered
by the many men and women whose
trials he lightened by timely aid. whose
lives he frightened by kindly counsel
His good deeds and their certain frui-
ton are the memorials which will keep
Father Ahern's name green in the
memory of Western Catholics for many
day.
Father Ahern had travelled much both
in Europe and America. His knowledge
was wide and varied. As a scholar he
held high rank among the schoolmen
Of France and ireland. where he taught
for years. He was facile writer, a
gifted orator. His command OF foreign
languages was extraordinary.
During the period Of his Western la
bors Father Ahern was comforted by
the constant companonship OF his sis
ter. Miss Kate A. Ahern. Miss Ahern
was at one time an esteemed teacher in
prominent academy. The career
which, might have equalled that of her
brilliant brother was checrfully aban-
doned to share the hardsllips OF his
mission life
Miss Ahern accompanied her brother
to this city and ministcrcd to him con-
stantly during his long Illness At the
time OF his death they resided at 600
Fourteenth avenue N. Miss Ahern but
recently sustained another sad affection
OF sisters death, which occurred in
Baltimore, Md, who was member 81
the St. Vincent de Paul Sistcrhood. and
known in religion as Sister Alphonsc
Another sister is nun in the Prcsenta-
ton Convent at Mitchcllstown, county
Cork.
Thursday at 10 o'clock the funeral
services were held at the Church of
the Ascension, the remains lying in
state Wednesday afternoon and Thurs
day morning. The caskct, heavily
draped in black, stood in the center
aisle just below the chancel rail. Five
lighted tapcrs burned on either side, a
cluster OF soft white blossoms entwincd
with green vines rcposed on the sombcr
pail. Solemn requiem mass was cele-
brated by Father Shcehan OF Elkton, S.
d., Father Wolfe Of Mlbank, acting as
deacon, Father Mics OF the Ascension
church as subdeacon, and Rev. ]. Har-
rington, pastor of Ascension church, as
master OF ceremonies. Father Cleary,
pastor of St. Charles church, preached
the sermon. The choir, directed by Pro-
lessor Beck, sang the requiem mass,
Rev. Father LaGardeur singing the
offertory
My Lord is my Life and my Saliva
ton. Whom have I to fcar?" This fer
vid, faith-inspircd psalm OF the Royal
prophet was an appropriate text for Fa-
Their Cleary's eloquent eulogy on the
character of the departed priest The