The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-24

Three of the five new priests ordained
by Bishop 1ioban last Thursday. Celc-
brated their first masses at Holy Ros-
AIRY church yesterday morning.
Rev. John lleffron read mass at $
o'clock. Rev. stephen OBoyle sang a
high mass at y O'Clock. and Rev. James
Lynch. assisted by Fathers lleffron and
O'Boyle, sang "a solemn high mass at
1880 o'clock.
The church was crowded at all three
masses, many friends of the new priests
from distant places being present.
Three priests reading their first masses
in the same church on the same day is
something never recorded before in this
coGnty but once, according to local
priests who have looked the matter up.
This, coupled with the further remark
able fact that all three young men were
born and raised in the parish and
clnmmad together all their lives, made
the event one in which the congrega-
ton could not help but evnce the great
est interest.
At Rev. Father O'Boylc's mass the
music was furnished by students and
graduates of st. Marys seminary. Bal
timore, who came on here to witness
the unusual event in which their school
mates participated They were Rev.
Michael A. O'Boyle, of Crete. Neb.;
Rev. James Mccormick, of Pittsburg;
Neil Brennon, of Boston; John Gatfney,
of Freeland, and Joseph Keiser of san
Francisco, present students of st.
Mary's; Rev. Martin Lotus, OF Daven
port. Ia, and Rev. Nj. Il. Lotus. OF
Green Ridge, two graduates of st.
Mary's. TO hear a mass sung by
male choir is unusual in these parts,
and to hear it sung SO remarkably we'll
made it all the more of IL treat. Rev.
j. V. Moylan assistant priest at Holy
Rosary church. presided at the organ.
A brief sermon was delivered by the
rector, Rev. n. j. McManus. on the
significance and dignity of holy orders.
He also feclinsly congratulated the
parents and other friends of the young
priests on having one OF their own
honored and blessed by a call from the
Almighty to become one of his dis
ciples.
The venerable rector. himself was
probably more in a mood for conSra lu-
latiOns than any one particular person
in the congregation. He has ever
evinced a fatherly interest in the three
young men. and that they had brought
such a distinction on his congregation
endeared them all the more to him.
At the 1890 o'clock mass the throng
was so great in the auditorium that
many had to be content to stand in the
aisles all during the mass. Rev. Father
Lynch was celebrant; Rev. Father
O'Boyle, deacon; Rev. Father Heffron.
sub deacon: Rev. w. p. O'Donnell. of
Holy Cross, master of ceremonies. John
Lynott and John Burke, who were the
servitorS, and Thomas White and John
Lynch, the acOlytes, are all scminari-
ans whose homes are in North Scran-
ton. An appropriate sermon was
preached by Rev. Father McFecley, of
the Dominicans, who are now conduct
inc a mission at Holy Rosary.
The music was furnished by the rcGu-
lar choir, assisted by the scminarians.
The best Catholic church choir III the
city is that of the Holy Rosary church,
and for weeks past it had been rehearS-
ing special programme for ycstcr-
days momentouS event. The SOloists
were Mrs. John Lynch, soprano; Miss
Margaret Thornton, contraltO; Will \.
LynOtt. tenor, and Will +. Burke, bass.
Miss Libbic Ncary was the orGanst.
The new priests are to receive their
assignments from Bishop Hoban next
Thursday.