The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-10

FATHER ]. T. COFFEY,
New pastor of st. Leos, and consulter
Who were appointed to their new position
Archbishop. John ]. Glennon yesterday
appointed the Reverend Father James
Thomas Coffey. pastor Of st. Johns
Catholic Church. to the pastorate Of st.
Leo's Catholic Church.
Father Coffey was also appointed a
members of the Council OF Consulters in
the place of Archbishop ]. ]. Harry.
whom he succeeds as pastor Of st. Leo's.
The Reverend Father F. G. Eolweck,
pastor OF st. Francis de Sales Catholic
Church. was appointed TO the Council of
Consulters. He succeeds Monsignor Henry
Muehlsiepen. formerly Vicar General of
the Archdiocese.
A concursus will be held within a short
time. and Of the candidates who present
themselves for examination the Arch
bishop will choose pastor Of st. Johns
Church to succeed Father Coffey.
Father Coffey. while pastor. de facto of
st. Leo's Church from yesterday, will re-
main at st. Johns until the LIST OF Janu-
airy. He will place the affairs Of the parish
in readiness for his successor, who, 1t Is
thought, will be named by that time.
+ The Archbishop did not yesterday an
nounce the appointment of Vicar Gem
eral, but it is thought that he will do
SO before the expiration Of the present
week.
Since Archbishop Harry was promoted
from the pastorate of st. Leo's to the
hierarchy Of the Catholic Church. the
course of Archbishop Glennon has been
watched with great interest This and the
vicar generalship were recognized as be-
inE the first appointments Of great i'm
portanee he would make.
OUTLINES POLICY.
The selection Of Father Coffey is taken
as an Indication Of the policy the Arch
bishop wishes to pursue in the diocese.
In his letter to Father Coffey he lays
particular stress upon his labors to pro-
mote civic and social purity, and his
action Is taken as the strongest indorse-
ment of the course pursued by the retiring
pastor of st. Johns.
st. Johns is an irremovable rectorship.
and it is known that Father Coffey. when
the matter Of st. Leo's pastorate was first
preached to him. expressed himself as
wishing to remain. He accepted only after
being urged by the Archbishop.
The parish to which he goes is one Of
the most thickly populated and best or
ganized In the city. 1t was founded by
Archbishop Harry, and Father Coffey is
its second pastor. Its church. its rectory
and its schools are all practically new.
The debt upon them was greatly reduced
81. - scnn rtp nd OIL
though considerable remains. it is thought
It will be cleared away in short time by
the labors Of the new pastor.
Father ConEey is perhaps the best-known
priest in st. Louis. For more than five
years he has aggressively combated sa-
looms and intemperance. and has lectured
In nearly every parish of the diocese. He
was frequent speaker at st. Leo's during
the passionate Of Archbishop Harry, and
has a large acquaintance in the parish.
Through his efforts the antiwine-
room crusade was started and prosecuted
against the saloons of that part of the
city surrounding st. Johns Church.
The debt upon st. Johns Church he
reduced from $4,000 to $1,000. and this
during the days when the parish was be-
ing deserted by the more wealthy men,
bers Of his congregation.
It Is understood that he will carry on
the same strenuous work in his new
charge. St. Leo's has the strongest
Knights Of Father Mathew organization
and K. F.SM. Woman's Auxiliary in the
State and these will materially assist the
new pastor.
Father Gavin and Father Lloyd. who
have been assistants at st. Leo's for sew
eral years, will be continued in their pres
emit positions Their acquaintance with
the parish and the methods there in vogue
win erof assistance to Father Coffey.
TO HOLD CoNCuRsUs.
Because Of st. Johns being an irremov-
able rectorship. Father Coffey was COM
PEELED to resign before he could accept
new position. Irremovable rectorships are
not filled simply by the appointment Of the
Archbishop.
The law requires that concursus be
held. and that all priests Of the diocese
who have been priests for ten years or
more are eligible to enter the examina-
lions. These examinations are upon the
ology, philosophy. canon ,law. all requi-
sites for admission to holy orders. They
are conducted by three Of the synodical
examiners. selected from the thirteen
synodical examiners. by the Archbishop.
From those who stand the tests the
Archbishop makes his appointment. Should
no one enter the concursus. A. was the
case several years ago when the irremov-
able fectorship OF the Catholic Church Of
Edna, Mo-. was to be filed, the Arch
bishop applies to Rome for permission to
make the appointment upon his own &C.
lection.
The law requires that ten days notice
be given the concursus. and that it be
held within six months after the removal
Of the. former rector. Priests are Of the
opinion that the Archbishop will have the
concursus conducted at the earliest pos
sihle time.
The Archbishop's council of consulters
Is made up Of sit members. BY the pro-
motion Of Archbishop Harry, and the
death OF Mcnsisnor Muehlsiepen two of
these were removed. The duty of the
council Is to confer with the Archbishop