Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1907-03-23
When Dedicated the Congrega-
ton Contained Twenty
Five Families.
Will Soon Erect One of the
Finest Churches in This
Diocese.
BAZAAR WILL OPEN EASTER MoEDAY

Few churches in this country can
boast as wonderful and substantial
a growth as that of st. Cecilia's in
Portland. The parish was founded in
the early seventies, and when the
present church was dedicated in 1873
the congregation consisted of but
twenty-five families, which has in
creased until today the number il
nearly 500, and the church is tAere-
fore much too small for their needs.
st. Cecilia's church was dedicated I'm
1873, Rev. Father Feehan being the
first pastor. Succeeding him came the
Rev. Z. Nj. j. Rock, now of the Cathe-
oral, under whose administration was
laid the foundation for the STEADY
growth that has since continued.
When Father Rock was called to a
wider field the Passionist fathers
were placed in charge, but only for
short time, they being followed by
Fathers Mcconnell and McHenry and
the beloved Rev. William Mackin. who
passed to his eternal reward in 1893
The Rev. Andrew j. Brady, the pres
ent pious and jealous pastor, was ap-
pointed by Bishop McCloskey to the
charge of st. Cecilia's in 1898 and
from the first to the present that
interchangeable priest has continued
with marked success the work of his
predecessors. When Father Brady
TOOK charge he was confronted with
church debt of $1,000, inadequate
school facilities and a needed parish
mouse. With that business tact that
has characterized all his undertake
ings Father Brady set to work. first
providing a school for, the childress-
and then remodeling the church, to
meet the needs of its increasing num-
Der of communicates. But notwith-
standing tlSCse great responsibilities
he nevep lost sight of the church
debit Y'ich was being constantly re-
duced This policy continued until a
Few years ago, when Father Brady
surprised his meonle with the well
come announcement that the school
debt, the parish house debt and the
church debt had been paid and st.
Cecllla's was free and unencumbered.
Then after a years rest the pastor
and people got together and formed
the st. Cecilia's Church Building AS
soclafion, of which Alderman George
Butler is the President A canvass of
the parish showed that there were
nearly 500 Catholic families within its
confines and that over 600 children
were attending the parochial school.
Meetings were held and arrangements
completed for the raising of a build
ing fund. The people all became in
teres'ed, and so generous have they
been that already sum approximate
ing $4,000 has been secured with
which to begin the erection of new
church that will he one of the finest
in the diocese and monument to
Father Brady and his people.
For the purpose of adding to the
building fund the congregation will
give weeks bazar in the school
hall, beginning Easter Monday night,
that 1t is hoped will eclipse any here
tofore given. All the people in the
West End are working for Its success,
and on Sunday, April 7, the ladies of
the congregation will serve dinner
and supper and thus give many an
entirely free day to enjoy them
selves. There will be four large
booths, one conducted by the Altar
Society, one by 6he Young Ladies' So
dality, one by Macloin Council, and thSn
congregational booth, representing
The st. Vincent de Paul Society, the
Catholic Knights of America and the
Building Association. No soliciting in
the hall win be permitted, which will
tend to increase the number of visit
ors. who will find fine display from
which to purchase and an interest
ing nightly programme for their en-
tertainment. The Kentucky Irish
American would urge its readers IN
the other parishes to spend at least
one pleasant evening at this bazaar.
which is most deserving of liberal
patronage.