The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-04-08
FATHER STEPHENS RECEPTION
New Priest Entertained last Night
by Former echoolmates

4 1t was a large and enthusiastic crowd
that greeted Rev. Father Stephen last
evening as he entered the st. Louis
College hall escorted by M. A. Con
calves and Major Camara. The large
hall was filled with his former school
mates and friends from the Portuguese
colony, and in front of the platform he
was welcomed by the Bishop of Pan
opolis, Consul Canavarro, the clergy
of the Catholic Mission, and the facul-
ty of st. Louis College.
The Catholic Mission band furnish
ed entertaining music in the college
grounds and the st. Louis College quar-
tet under the leadership of Brother
Francis, assisted materially in the
evenings entertainment. The duet
"Life's Dream is Ger" by Father Val
entin and Jean Sabate was well re-
cefVed as was Father VALENTINES solo,
1.-THE Soldier of the Cross" Two duets
were rendered by Mrs. N. Alapai ana
Miss ]. Keliiaa and during the inter-
mission refreshments were served,
while the band played several selec-
tions.
The address by Louis Medeiros, the
popular president Of the Portuguese
Literary Club was very true tribute
to the Rev. Father Stephen, and was
much applauded 1t was as follows:
I'VE are assembled here tonight for
the purpose Of greeting and congratu-
lating our newly ordained priest, Rev.
Father Stephen, and to express our
appreciation and gladness, with deep
feelings of gratitude, to all those dear
fathers who were instrumental in Sc
curing his clerical training and make
him what he now is.
I'VE shall endeavor not to exclude
any of the Catholic clergy with our
thanks here tonight, for we all know
that to God and themselves alone do
we owe this opportunity of incompara-
BILE pleasure and happiness of tonight
beholding one of u.s. the first Portu-
guese priest in these Islands.
lear friends, if you will allow me,
[ will take you back to the time of his
early schooldays. AS l understand, he
attended school at the st. Louis Col
lege, of which this beautiful hall is a
part, and here it was that his good
qualities were developed. Here he re-
ceived his first religious education
here he began to thirst most insatiably
for the knowledge of Jesus Christ
and to get in close touch-breast to
breast, heart to heart, with the teach.
.ngs Of the Holy Roman Cathonc
| Church-that kind, generous and most
iorgiving of all good mothers.
"As he continued and progressed in
his studies, he found himself, little by
little being carried away, as it We're
/ from HIS worldly environments into
l'that holy sphere, yet quite foreign to
him but in which ne soon rejoiced to
be,
God with all His mercy and heaven
ly aid brought him out of that mire
He succeeded remarkably well, for we
are all aware of the results. His good
qua. les, his merits as student, his
religious tendencies, and his expressed
ldesire to become champion OF the
Holy Catholic faith, made him favor
tie of his benefactors, the good.holy
Gather Leonore, and the whole Cath
Ollie clergy.
God grant them long lives, that
they may live to see the fruit of theil
labor, and we thank them from the
bottom Of our hearts for the Interest
Ethey have taken in us, for Father
Stephens ordination is ample proof o.
their good will towards us Portuguese
What Joy there must have been In thi'
young mans heart when, in May o
1895, his Lordship stated his intention
to take him away, and place him in {
seminary for his preparation. Hi
great joy must have been immeasura
BILE when he boarded the steamer TO
the coast and his destination. Blu
here it is well to think Of the feeling
of those he left behind, His dear, in
ldulgent father his loving brothers an,