The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-12-22
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
NEW MILFORD.
FATHER CURTIN HONoRED.

ANC" mll1OIu "a UilOAlSo VIA SSJcASS
in the handsome testimonial given
Father Curtin in Waterbury, Sunday.
He was formerly a popular pastor OF
the Church of St Francis Xavier In
this place. The Waterbury Republican
has this to say: Waterbury has seldom
seen a greater display OF enthusiasm
than was exhibited Sunday seveniDg
when the people of St Francis Xavier
parish serenaded their pastor, Rev
Jeremiah J. Curtin, with full brass
band and leading him triumphantly
to St Francis hall, as the OLD church
building is called, in blaze Of red fire
and Jorchlight, presented him with
testimonials Of the love and honor
which they bear him, and small Cas-
ket con tanning a check for about $1,000
The occasion was the 25th anniversary
OF Father Curtin's ordination, which
took place December Is, 1880, in Mon
treal, Canada, Bishop Fabre admins
tering the sacrament of holy orders.
All day Sunday was jubilee day in st
Francis Xavier church. The first
formal exercise was solemn high
mass at 10 80 a. m. Father Curtin was
the celebrant. Rev jeremiah Curtin,
pastor of St Lawrence church, West
Haven, was deacon, Rev J. B. Nihill
Of Bridgeport, sub-deacon; Rev Peter
Sicily OF Litchfield, master of ceremo-
MES. In the sanctuary also were Rev
Joseph F. Hanselman, S. J., president
of Holy Cross college, Worcester, Mass. !;
Rev John F. Fleming and Rev James
Hession of St Francis Xavier church.
The church had been very tastefu]ly
decorated for the occasion. The altar
was outlined with silver tinSel, and
several large palms and other potted
plants were artistically arranged in
the sanctuary. Pink, white and yellow
chrysanthemums were lavishly used in
the altar decorations. Across the
front Of the auditorium, above the
chanceI rail were zfesteons3 Of silver
tinSel and from the middle of the
church were 10 of these bells, much
larger than the others, there being rs
in all. The Is small ones Signified
his service in other fields, while the
larger ones we're symbolic of his 10
years pastorate in Waterbury. At
the end Of the communion service
Father Curtin stepped forward to the
chancel rail and, after reading the
parish notices, addressed the people
briefly and impressively, thanking
them for their support during his pas
torate and for their evidences of
that he had reached "a mile
stone, which, he said, $50
few in the priesthood pass"
At the end Of the mass, when the
benedictiOn was pronounced, every
head was bowed sOlemnlY for the
blessing from the pastor, which, on
such an occasion, and after the clos
ing words Of his address, had more
than the ordinary significance. I'm
mediately after the mass the service
of bepediction of the blessed sacra-
ment was held, and the church serv-
ices for the day were concluded, Sun
day school and vesper services being
dispensed with on account of the
solemn high mass. In the rectory an
elaborate feast awaited the pastor and
hiss brother clergymen and guests,
among whom were the members of his
family from his home in New Britain.
While the other priests we're cOnclud-
ing their dinner Rev Father Fleming
and several members of the parish
we're busy making arrangements for
the elaborate entertainment Of last
evening. Several children distributed
programs of the exercises at the
homes of the parishionerS and others
assisted in decorating the hall. Whep,
shortly before O'Clock, Father Curtin
was startled by the sudden music of
the American band in front of the
rectory, he first became aware of the
plans which had been concealed from
him during the weeks his brother
priests and the parishioners had been
making them. He saw without about
500 men and women of the parish ar
rayed to greet him. They we're
the members of the Holy Name
society, the Washington Hill club
and the Children of Mary.
Proceeding to the hall, Father Cur
mi ~ h4
parish as could crowd into the struct-
ure awaiting him. The stage was elab-
orately decorated with American flags
and bunting in red, white and blue,
and blue and white combinations
Across the front, in large silver fig
ures, were the two dates marking the
limits Of his priesthood, 1880 and 1905.
Seated on the stage weIe thirteen
young girls clothed in white, each of
which held letter, which together
made the three words, cad multos an
nos," (meaning, MAY you live for
many years.") In front of these thir-
teen sat Miss Kathleen Coughlan,
whose part in the exercises appears
below. The priests of the parish and
their guests made up the rest of the
tion of j. Shugrue. who delivered the
| Introductory remarks and acted as
| chairman. Father Hanselman was
orator of the occasion.
The program of the evening exer-
ciSeS follows:
Overture-"H Guarany," Gomez,
American Band
| ''Gloria," Choir
Introductory Remarks. J. Shugrue
Quartet Misses Lillian Loughlin, Sa-
die Dunn, Messrs J. M. DAILY, T.
Presentation of Chalice,
John E., Curtin
Cornet Solo-"Stabat Mater" Ros-
sine, Louis Bovine
Children's Tribute, Kathleen Cough:
Ian, assisted by the following
Mary Casey, Mary Ralfe, Mary
Reynolds, Margaret Curley, Mari
Gaffney, Marguerite Bowen, Belle
| Shea, Gertrude Hartnett, Frances
Donohue, Catherine Nc Farland
Loretta Bo~es, Loretta Shugru'
Chorus, Choil
William J. Phelar
RI';sssponse, Rev jeremiah J. Curtin
Selection-"W Woodland" Luders,
American BanC
Accompanist, Miss May E. German
Father Curtin was born in New
Britain, April l, 1856. Since his ordi
nation he has served in the following
parishes: East Hartford, two years
New Milford, four years; Rockville
nine years; Waterbury, ten years.
WHAT P. NJ. CASSIDY HAS TO OFFER
, The dainty and artistic line of Christ
mas calendars and cards offered by T
M. Cassidy has set the good ladies viii
with DELIGHT His stock of burnt WOO