The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-28
YESTERDAY FIRST
 SUNDAY IN ADVENT
It Marked Beginning of the Ee=
 cIeSiaStical Year
MASSES WELL ATTENDED
Work on the Foundation for a Marble Altar at St. Paul's Will be
 Started This Week.
 Rev. Father DaIy.

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Ad- ventt the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, according to the calendar Of the liturgical churches. At st. Paufs church the Rev. Father coyle said the first and second masses, and the Rev. Father Kit rick was the celebrant at the high mass at 10:3O o'clock, the Rev. Father Coyle occupying the pulpit The preacher theme was "Rehections," and the con- gregation was exhorted to think seriously of the present. not to live too much In the past and not to be too much con cerned about the future of worldly eN- istence. The speaker urged his hearers to make good resolutions at the begin ming of the church year.
 | Work will be started this week on the | foundation for the marble altar to be erected in St. Pauls church. The altar will be large and beautiful and will be finished probably by Easter.
 There were three masses. said at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows church yesterday, the first by the Very Rev. 1 Father Meurer at o'clock, and the sec l ond by the Rev. Father Canepa at l o'clock, and the last a high mass was celebrated hy the Rev. Father Daly at l 10 o'clock. All three services were well attended, especially the last. The 3 o'clock mass was attended mostly by Italians and a special sermon was preached to them in their native tongue.
 Father DaIy.
 Father Daily who preached at high mass, Is now stationed at Milwaukee, but years ago he was stationed in this dis trict He has a deep, rich voice, a fine delivery, and he breaches with great earn estness. In substance Father Daily said; We now begin the church year, called Advent, derived from the Latin, meaning coming. From now until Christmas will be time oe special preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ. Peo- pie prepared for 4O0o years before the Savior came, and the church's four weeks of special prayer, recall that period.
 "St. Paul said, Our church is not a meeting place. we have an altar there Let us know the mass, and it's magnifi- cent meanlngs. During the mass, there fore, we should be devout, as the service represents Christ's suffering and death on the cross for us. We should study and learn of the great sacrifice. There is nothing meaningless in the mass, every thing has a special significance. The altar boys represent the apostles, the white robe the priest wears represents the one Christ wore when scoffed at; the large cross on the vestments signifies our Savior's suffering"
 His Heart Still Here.
 The priest said that, although being away from Birmingham for many years, he still had his heart with the people. He remembered in earlier days the small. humble congregation of Father Meurer. when all services were held in a little rented room, how faithful the members were many walking miles to hear mass.
 Father Daly spoke of the wonderful progress of both the city and church. And though happy today to be among old friends still he felt sad to realize the loss of such good workers as Father Mur- ray, Father McCafferty and Father OfpaiII,.