The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-08-26
BISHOP CARROLL AT TOWNSEND
Catholics and Non-Cathoics Give
Preiate Cordial Welcome.
Especial Correspondence.)


Townsend, Mont. Aug. 1S.-Sunday
was a red letter day in the history OF
the Catholic church in Townsend and
will long be remembered by those who
witnessed the festivities. 1t was the
occasion of the first visit to the parish
of Ri. Rev j. P. Carroll, bishop of
Helena, as well as the anniversary OF
the dedication of the beautiful church
built by the esteemed pastor, Rev. F.
O'Farrell. A great and spontaneous
demonstration of welcome greeted the
bishop on his arrival. The train was
met by a delegation of a dozen men of
the parish who came in carriages to
conduct the bishop to the priests resi-
dence.
On Saturday evening the spacious
! lawn at the residence of Father
O'Farrell was aglow with the mellow
light of Japanese lanterns suspended
from the boughs of the trees. A large
gathering of the people of town called
| to extend their greeting to the bishop.
Later a committee of ladies passed
through the grounds serving delicious
refreshments to the entire satisfaction
of all.
Sunday morning Bishop Carroll said
mass at o'clock and gave First Holy
Communion to large class of boys and
girls. He warmly congratulated the
children and their teachers who had
prepared them for this, the happiest
day of their whole lives.
The real features. however. of the
days festivities began at 1890 d. m.
At that hour a cavalcade of horsemen
led the procession from the priests
house to the church. Behind the horse
men came the Catholic men marching
in double file, and then the children,
who were to receive confirmation all
dressed up in gay attire for the Oc-
cason, walked Immediately before the
bishops carriage.
At the door of the church the bishop
was received by the pastor, Father
OFarrell, assisted by Rev Father
Leschner, of All Hallows college, Salt
Lake, and a score of altar boys in cas-
socks and SUPPLIES. After the usual
ceremonies were performed the process
sion entered the sanctuary.
The handsome new church was at
it's best. A throne for the bishop had
been erected and the sanctuary taste
fully decorated by the ladies of the
parish. Festoons of evergreens hung
from the walls. The affairs were
banked by an abundance of flowers
which lent their charm and odor to the
beauty of the sanctuary. Rev. Father
mass and the music was rendered by
the united choirs of Townsend and
Canton under the able leadership of
Miss Annie Rosenbaum. Mrs George
Lloyd presided at the organ.
After the high mass and before he
administered confirmation, Bishop Car
roll preached his first sermon to the
people of the parish. taking his text
from the gospel of the day. The ser
impressive and made an excellent i'm
preston on the large congregation.
made up of Catholics and non-Cath-
olics, who flied the edifce to its ut
most capacity. Towards the eend the
bishop showered congratulations on
the esteemed and Jealous pastor
Father O'Farrell. who five years ago
organized the Townsend parish. be-
came its first pastor and under whose
able management and >incessant labor
the parish has grown in things tenn
peroral and spiritual and the hand
some new church became a fact He
alluded to the church itself and it's
furnishings. and said it would be a
credit in any place in his diocese He
also thanked the people of Townsend
both Catholic and on-CatholiC who
had contributed so literally to the
building fund, and especially did he
congratulate the ladies of the parish
who had labored incessantlv for the
erection of the church and through
whose labors most of the money was
realized
After the sermon the bishop gave
confirmation to the children Mrs. Joe
Blessing acted as sponsor for the girls
and Mr.. Horace Geehan for the boys.
The evening services were held at
Canton. where another large audience
met the bishop and listened with raut
attention to his eloquent discourse.
After the services the people went in
turn to the sacristy and were intro
dUced to the bisho9.
Rev. Father Joyce. an old friend from
Father O'Farrelrs home in ireland. and
Rev. j. B. Thompson of Bozeman
were present in the sanctuary.