The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-26
ST. JOHNS CHURCH HAS
AN ALL DAYS SERVICE
Bishop Chatard Assists Father
Gavisk in Pontifical Mass Be
fore Large Congregation.
CHILDREN FURNISH MUSIC

Christmas day was fittingly celebrated at
st. Johns Catholic Church with six ser
vices. the first at o'clock in the morning,
and the last at o'clock in the afternoon.
At two of these services the aged prelate.
Right Rev. Francis Silas Chatard, Bishop
of indianapolis, officiated at the pontifcal
vices at p.
AT the early morning service, from to 6
o'clock, high mass was celebrated by Rev.
Peter killian, and the church was crowded
to the doors with a congregation numbering
probably $500. The church was beautifully
decorated with holly and greens, and the
sanctuary and the altar were brilliantly i'll
Illuminated with clusters OF electric lights.
AT this service, Rev. Francis III. Gavisk,
priest of st. Johns parish, preached on
THE Birth of Christ
This service was followed by low mass
at 6, at 1880 and at 9 o'clock, at all of which
Rev. Father James McCooI officiated, and
at each one of which large number of
communicates partOok of the holy sacra-
ment. Father Stephen Donoghue preached
at the 1880 service. The 8 o'clock mass was
q special service for the children, and at
this service the church was again packed
TO the doors. A number of Christmas songs
were sung by the children and the sermon
was preached by Father Gavisk.
The principal service of the day, however,
was uclQ dl IU.OV, WHICH pOlllliCdl UldSS was
sung by Bishop Chatard, assisted by Rev.
Stephen Donoghue, Rev. James McCool,
Rev. Francis II. Gavisk and Rev Peter
Killian. A corps of altar boys numbering
about forty assisted in the elaborate GER
emonial of this most imposing of all Cath
Ollie services, and their fine appearance and
excellent discipline added materially to the
impressiveneSs of the mass.
Father Gavisk preached at this service
and his address was one of the principal
features of the days many services. He
took as his subject THE Divinity of
Christ"
1.-The Christmas celebration" said Father
Gavisk, would lose its meaning were 1t
not for the belief in the divinity of Christ
that the Child born at Bethlehem was the
eternal Son of God" The darkness, ig-
norance and superstition, the low state of
world were cOntrasted with the state of
Christendom to-day, showing what had been
accomplished by Christianity.
The Christian religion" continued Father
Gavisk, made the individual man feel that
he creature of Cod with duties and
responsibilities 10 his Creator. The incar-
nation elevated man, making him the
heir to the Eternal Kingdom. There is
some danger in the modern trend Of
thought which loses sight of this crea-
tureship OF man. The lesson of Bethlehem
is one of humility, the eternal Son of God
having humbled himself to one of our ma
from the world, as shown in the poverty
of Christ"
At o'clock in the afternoon a beautiful
vesper service was conducted by Bishop
Chatard. assisted by the same clergymen
who assisted him at the pontifical mass
in the morning. At this service, and at the
o'clock and 1890 o'clock high masses,
special musical services were rendered.