The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-17
ST. BRIGDS IS
OPENED AGAIN
Ceremony Is Attended by
Fashionable Congregation
From Western Addition
SERVICES

Eo- 4ba frst time since the April
disaster divine services were held yes
terday in St Brigid's Church. at the
corner of Broadway and Van Ness ave-
nue.. As this is one OF the most pop
ular churches in the city the occasion
was one of great interest TO the resi-
dents OF the Western Addition many OF
whom are members OF the church
Almost totally destroyed by the force
OF the dyuaa1iting OF buildings along
van Ness avenue during the fire, the
church was left q she'll Almost before
the embers OF the fire were cold those
interested in the welfare OF the parish
got together and made plans Tor the
rehabilitation of the church property
As result of their efforts. the church
is more beautiful than ever Before the
disaster the interior was finished In
rough plaster and stucco. Now it is
finished in tints OF cream and gold.
which, blending. make a beautiful ef-
feet. While the outside Of the edifce
is not completed, preparations were
made yesterday 10 allow OF the entrance
of the great congregation that assem-
bled at the opening of the church
The occasion of the reopening Of the
church was coincident with the begin
ming of the forty hours alteration serv-
ices, which began al Il o'clock yester-
day. This ceremony in honor OF the
Blessed Virgin was most impressive
one.
Long before the services in the
church yesterday morning a great
crowd of the residents OF the fashiona-
BILE Western Addition assembled at the
church, and every seat was filled be-
fore the ceremonies began
Archbishops Montgomery and RioT-
dan were present and conducted the
ceremony of solemn high mass They
R--T he TnifnrrinR- Father
CottIe, the parish priest. ceiebrant o.
the mass: Father McGinty. deacon;
Father Meyer, sub-deacon, and Father
CautweIl. master Of ceremonies The
address was delivered Archbishop Rior-
dan and he took for his subject the
forty hours devotion HIS sermon
dealt chiefly with the solemnity of the
annual occasion and touched upon the
significant fact that the season was in
dicative of good cheer and good Will TO
man For the text of his sermon Arch
bishop Riordan took the epistle to the
Philippians. Rejoice Always in the
Lord
Following the sermon the solemn
high mass was celebrated by the Arch
bishop and the assisting clergy. The
| impressive ceremony included the pro-
cession OF the blessed sacrament The
order of this was accompanied by much
! pomp. First came the cross bearer and
two acolytes. who headed the process
sion They were followed b. fifty girls
dressed in pure white, who marched up
the aisles of the church scattering the
petals of the red rose right and left
! This was the symbol of divine love.
Back of the girls came about twenty
FIVE boys clad IN white, and they were
followed by the priests Archbishop
Mont gomery carried the blessed sacra-
ment, and incense was burned. the
thuribles being borne by small boys
y Upon returning TO the altar the litany
of the saints and the official prayers
were read by the Archbishop and re-
sponded to by the assisting priests.
One very noticeable fact In the serv-
ices yesterday was that q great mum
Der OF old parishioners who haze trans
ferred their residences to outside points
were present az the reopening of st
Brigid's Church
Following the services the visiting
clergy and friends of the church were
entertained at dinner by Father Cottie
and his assistants