The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25
ST.BERNARD'S
FORTY YEARS 4 PRIEST TODAY
AND FOR So ITS RECTOR.
Archbishop to he Present NJ the Anni-
yersary OF n Popular Clergyman and
Host OF Brother Priests to Rally
Round Him-His One Great Misfortune.


yersary OF Popular Clergyman and q
Host OF Brother Priests to Rally
Round Him-His One Great Misfortune.
The Rev. Gabriel A. Healy celebrates his
fortieth anniversary Of priesthood to-day
by singing solemn high mass at st. Ber-
nard's Church, In West Fourteenth street,
Of which he has been the pastor since the
parish was founded thirty-six years ago.
Archbishop Farley will preside at the
mass and Mgr. Lavelle will preach. His
ser mon will be review OF the life and work
Of the pastor.
Every Catholic clergyman in the city
who is free to-day will be present at the
mass and many from other cities. The
choir will sing Mozart's fifth mass, and after
ward dinner will be given to the Arch
bishop and clergy b. Father Healy in the
rectory. He said yesterday to Sun re-
porter:
yes, my friends are going to give me a
little send-off. but really don't deserve it..
OF Father Healy's family only one other
member, his brother, Judge Edmund Healy,
survives. Judge Healy lives at lar Rock
away. Father Healy was born In Washing
ton street, near Barclay. His preliminary
education was received at the parish school
of st. Peters under the Sisters Of Charity.
He went later to the Holy Name School in
Twelfth street, near Third avenue, thence
to the Christian Brothers School in Canal
street and st. Francis Xavier's College,
and in the fall Of 1880 he began his theo-
logical course at the Grand Seminary In
Montreal. Four years later he was Or
dained In the old cathedral in Mulberry
street by Bishop James Roosevelt Bailey
OF Newark.
rather Healy had several classmates
tinguished clergy men, among them Bishop
Wigger late OF the Newark diocese; Bishop
Ludden of Syracuse, Mgr. mclean Of st.
Peter 8 in this city, Mgr. Duhy OF Albany
the Rev. Patrick 1anoy, former pastor OF
st. Jeromes Church in The Bronx, and
several Jesuit fathers.
In the spring of 1888 he was sent from 81.
Peters Church to establish new parish
in Fourteenth street, He said mass at
first In a wagon factory, directly behind
the present church. His church was seven
years in building. The cornerstone was
finally laid in the spring of 1878, and the
church was dedicated by Cardinal McCios-
key in the fall Of 1875: St Bernardo Church
dedicated by an American Cardinal Father
Healy Is proud of this bit of history. His
church was burned in 1890 and he had 70
rebuild It. g,
ASIDE from tnlS ne SdIo yootciuay,. l
have had no great difficulties in my work
none that / would consider difficulties.
We all have our ups and downs, and sup
pose have had mine, but this Is no time
to be anything but cheerful"
Father Healy has done much to build
up the summer school. He has beautiful
cottage in the grounds at Gin haven,
where he entertains royalty. He is much
| beloved by the people who frequent the
| summer school, as well as his own parish
| toner's.
Mgr. Mclean, pastor Of st. Peters
| Church who Is not only Father Healy's
classmate, but his lifelong friend, tells
this story of him:
aIn my own saoristy one morning word
came to me that st. Bernard's Church had
been burned. I was surprised, but imme-
diately went up to see Father Healy,, ex-
peotinr to find him much disturbed about
his misfortune. ] found him preparing
to 20 out and look up architects and oon-
church. He answered my. questions in
the coolest most matter OF fact way oy
saying you know We have insurance
Il knew that, but 1t was nowhere near
my church the next Sunday, and make a
plea to the people. ! told him to go to
every church in the city and DO likewise,
for knew every priest would help him.
well, do you know his plea was 80 weak
that was amazed. He went on telling
the people that it wasn't so bad because
we had insurance and the walls Of the
church were still standing, In fact, every
expression of his minimized, instead of
emphasized, his disaster. We have often
since ioked with each other about 1t, but
Il was a serious matter then and for a good
while afterward but you would never
learn It from Father Healy.'
Father Healy is the magician and sleight
of hs nd man of the clergy here. He can
amuse an audience for hours with tricks in
magic. Tomorrow evening in the base
ment Of the church the Pensioners are to
congregate and present an address to their
beloved pastor, and maybe something
more substantial.