The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-26
Ceremonies in Observance of the
Feast of the Nativity in Catho-
lie Churches Began at Mid
night
CHURCHES DRESSED IN
EVERGREEN AND FLOWERS
Rev. Father Quinn Celebrates His
First Public Mass in His Home
Church, St. Stephen's-IIlneSS
of Rev. Robert Walsh Saddens
His Pensioners

Worcester was general ana the services
were marked with great pomp and Ger
emony in honor of the feast of the Ma
tivity. From early morning until well
into the evening every Catholic Church
in the city was filled with sweet mu-
sic and the odor of burning incense,
while on every hand were to be seen
the elaborate decorations of ever
greens. laurel, fragrant flowers and
lighted candles arranged IN beautlIul
designs about the affairs.
The description of the decorations IN
any one church is practically de-
scription of all because the chleI lea-
ture of the Christmas dress was laN-
ish display of the creeping evergreen
that was worked into Wreaths and long
strips that were hung in graceful res
ICONS from pillar to pillar and arch 10
arch according to the architecture or
the edifice. The altar decorations were
beautiful in the extreme, free use OF
lighted candles shedding their rays
over gorgeous Vestments of the oftl-
ciating clergymen and bouquets of
bright cOlOred flowers.
The music was in keeping with the
Joyous festival and the magnificent
"Adeste Fidels'Was sung in solo, duet,
quartet and chorus all over the city
The services in all the churches We're
at the same hours as on Sunday and IN
most of them there were extra masses
for the benefit of the immense congre-
cations. The day began with the mid
night masses at the Orphanage of the
GRAY Nuns on Granite Street, St. Vim
cent Hospital and the convent chapel
of the Sisters of NOtre Dame. The ser
vice at St. Vincent Hospital at mid
night was a high mass offered BY the
hospital chaplain, Rev. John Gildea
and this service was followed by a low
mass.
At St. Johns Church on Temple
Street there was a high mass at .
o'clock with Rev. c. A. Sullivan as
celebrant and low masses at the reg
ular Sunday hours. The service at
1890 was a solemn high mass with
Rev. William J. FOran of the Catholic
University at Washington, one of the
young men of the parish, as celebrant,
Rev. Michael T. O'Brien as deacon and
Rev. c. A Sullivan as sub deacon and
Master Michael Carney as master OF
ceremonies The sermon Of the day
was preached by Rev. John F. BOland.
The music of this service was especial
ly noticeable as it consisted OF a new
mass written. for the day by Brother
Roniface, one of the Xaverian Brothers
School The music was well sung by
the choir under the direction of Mi
chael W. Handlin and a sanctuary
choir of 80 boys chanted the responses
of the mass and sang the "Adeste FL
delis" at the OffertOry. The day closed
with solemn Vespers at 40 in the
evening, with a sermon by Father FO-
ran.
The day was marked at St. Stephens
Chrr~1, h. colo bTl Of his first
public mass by Rev. J. F. Quinn, one
of the young men of the parish who
was ordained to the Catholic priest
hood at Montreal Saturday. Father
Quinn was the celebrant of the solemn
high mass at TO- As and he was assisted
by Rev Daniel F. McGillicuddy as dea-
con, Rev Michael P. Kavanagh as sub
deacon and Master James NJ. Hoey as
master Of ceremonies. The sermon of
the day was preached by Father Nc
Gillicuddy. The vesDer service that
closed the day was at 7.30.
The special services at st. Annes
Church were begun at 545 a. m, with
a high mass by Rev. J. J. O'Malley.
This was followed by low masses until
1870 when there was a solemn high
mass with Rev James P. Tuite as eel
ebrant, Rev. J. J. O'Malley as deacon,
Rev Mr. Loughlin, S. J., of Holy
Cross College as sub deacon and Rev.
James NJ. Cruise as master of ceremo-
MES. The sermon on the Nativity was
preached by Rev. Father Smith, S. j.,
of Holy Cross College. The Vesper ser
vice was at 7 o'clock.
The joy of the people of Immaculate
Conception Church was tinged with
sorrow on account of the illness of
their pastor, Rev. Robert Walsh, who
was prevented from officiating at a
Christmas service for the first time
since the parish was established. His
illness also prevented the usual re-
ligiOus service on Christmas Day at the
Home Farm because his assistant, Rev
NJ. J. McKenna, had so much to do in
the parish he could not find time to
go out to the farm. He began the day
with a high mass at $50 and this was
followed with low masses at and 9
o'clock. The service at 1890 was a high
mass celebrated by Rev. Father
Harpes, S. j., vice rector Of Holy Cross
College. In the evening there was a
vesper service with sermon by Father
McKenna.
At Sacred Heart Church. the first
service Of the day was a high mass
offered by Rev. William E. Foley, at
6 a. m. There We're low masses at Z
SIS and 9.15 and at 1890 there was a
solemn high mass with Rev. NJ J.
Ahearn as celebrant Rev. William E.
Foley as deacon and Rev. Mr. Geoghan,
S. j., of Holy Cross College as sub
deacon. The sermon was by the pastor.
Rev. Bernard S. Conaty. The day
closed with a vesper service at 7
o'clock.
The special service at st. Peters
Church was a solemn high mass at
1870 with Rev. d. H. O'Neil celebrant,
Rev. P. J. Lee as deacon and Rev Mr..
Langdon, S. J.. of Holy Cross College
as sub deacon. The sermon was preach
ed by Rev. Father Pittar, S. J., of Ho-
ly Cross College. The vesper service
was at 7.30 in the evening.
At St. Pauls Church, there was a
special Christmas mass at 1920 with
Rev. ]. J. Lunney as celebrant and a
sermon by Rev. P. H. Boland. The
yespeT service was at 7.30.
At the Church of the Holy Name, the
special service of the day was a high