Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1902-12-20
Handsome Structure Due Main
ly to Efforts of Father
Murphy.
Bishop McClOskey Blesses Edi-
flee and Celebrates the
First Mass.
DISTINGUISHED CATHOLICS PRESENT

The new church of st. William at
Thirteenth and Oak streets was solemnly
dedicated to the service of God last Sum
day, preceding the late mass at 1870
O'Clock. The Right Rev. Bishop Nc
Closkey officiated at the blessing of the
handsome new structure and then cele-
brated Pontifcal high mass. He was
assisted by the Right Rev. Monsignor
Zabler and the Very Rev. Paul ALT, o. F.
M, as deacons of honor; the Very Rev.
James P. Cronin, Vicar General, as arch
deacon; the Rev. B. J. Boland as deacon
and the Rev. Joseph p. Welsh as SUBJ
deacon. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. DIR. George w. Schuhmann,
who was also master of ceremonies.
Father Schuhmann spoke feelingly of
the hard work done by the Rev. Denis
Murphy, pastor of the new church, and
of his efforts night and day among
his new but rapidly growing congrega-
ton, The reverend speaker described in
graphic words what the house of God
should be and how Catholics should
glory in making it beautiful The entire
ceremonies were most solemn and i'm
posing. not the least important adjunct
being the musical programme. A splen-
did choir, made up of the leading singers
of the city, rendered Haydn's Imperial
Mass. This choir was under the direc-
ton of Mrs. Katie Carr Costigan, to
whose good judgment those present can
thank for the musical treat.
Many of the priests who attended the
dedicatory services remained at the new
and handsome rectory and dined with
Father Murphy. In the afternoon at 8
O'Clock the children of the parish were
instructed in catechism. At 1880 O'Clock
in the evening solemn vespers were sung
by a trained choir. After vespers Rev.
Joseph P. Welsh, assistant to the Very
Rev. Father Bax at St. Johns, at Clay
and Walnut streets, preached a sermon
on the Catholic church. The new church
was crowded both in the morning and in
the evening. There was only one dis.
appointment during the day and that
was the absence of the Right Rev. Bishop
McQuaid, of Rochester, N. Y, who had
been invited to preach the dedicatory
sermon. Both Father Murphy, pastor of
the new church, and his assistant, Father
Boland, were prepared for the priesthood
by Bishop McQuaid. Unfortunately
events so shaped themselves that the
Bishop OF Rochester could not reach
Louisville.
st. Williams is a handsome structure of
brick and stone, fifty-fve feet wide by
III feet long, with the dome finished in
natural wood after the manner prevailing
among the medieval English abbeys.
This dome will in time be decorated with
handsome frescoes. The interior decora-
tons of the new church are beautiful
now, but are by no means complete. Miss
Marie Costigan is the very capable organ
ist of the new church. -Four masses will
be celebrated every Sunday. The paro-
chial school numbers 40 pupils and is
under the direction of the Rev. Father
Boland. The inhabitants of this parish
who have built this church are poor but
Woodworking people. They are indebted
in a great measure to Father Murphy.
the jealous young Irish-American priest
who came among them last year and
began to celebrate mass in little cot
tage where Bishop McCloskey had estab-
lished Catholic kindergarten three years
ago. All praise to Father Murphy. He
is one of the ablest priests in the diocese
and his friends are not limited to his
parish, which is destined to grow rapidly.
Among the out-of.town people who
we're present at the dedication, were
Charles Murphy, of Boston, Mass, and
Miss Alice Leavitt, of New York. Lib
eral contributions for the new church
were made by Miss Leavitt and by Mrs.
Dan Hanna, of Cleveland, o.