Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-23
ST. PATRICK'S
CHURCH is
DEDICA TED
BISHOP CONATY 0FFICIATES
AT CEREMONY
IT. Rev. Mgr. Harnett Celebrates
Mass-Effect of Floral Decora-
tions Heightened by Many
Lighted Candles

With imposing ceremonies, the chant
Ing of prayers and burning of incense,
Bishop Conaty yesterday morning SOL
emnly dedicated st. Patrick's church,
Thirty-fourth street, near Central ave-
nue.. The new edifice was thronged.
Gala lilies were used extensively in the
decorations. their effect being height
ened by many lighted candles.
St Patrick's is one of group OF
parishes organized by Bishop Conaty
soon after he assumed the bishopric of
the diocese. Rev. p. j. O'Reilly was
appointed pastor of the new parish, and
since that time has superintended the
erection of parochial school, hall and
residence as we'll as the church build
ing dedicated yesterday.
Rt. Rev. Mgr Harnett was celebrant
of the solemn mass, assisted by Very
Rev Dr. Glass. archpriest; Rev. F..
Farely of Pasadena, deacon; Rev. j.
Barron, sub-deacon; Rev. Father
Fisher and Rev. Father McNally, dea-
cons of honor to the throne; Rev. z.
Molony, master of ceremonies to the
throne; Revs. F. J. Conaty and 2. j.
McGrath, masters of ceremonies of the
mass.
Seated in the sanctuary were Revs.
Raphael Fuhr, 0. F. NJ, Edward Lun-
ney, o. F. M; Burke, Donahoe, Fahey,
Quinn, C. M; bubble, Nunan, Geary,
Reardon ana Gerardl.
w. E. Clarke had charge of the musi-
cal program and Miss kllnknamnlef
presided at the organ.
Congratulations by Bishop
Bishop Conaty delivered the sermon.
He congratulated the pastor and par
ishioners on the work accomplished. lie
said in part:
"a church of the living God on a
busy, bustling highway of our city is
to the community another source OF
Gods special graces and bened1ctlons.
1t establishes another center of divine
mercy from which comes TO the souls
of men the manifestation of GODS spe-
cial love. Here stands another witness
to the divine truth, commissioned
preacher of Christ's gospel. conse-
Grated dispenser of Christs love. The
authority of God is here maintained,
the law of God is here proclaimed and
mans salvation is here placed within
his reach. Mans nature seems to force
him to the expression of faith IN Goa;
mans ideas of religion seem to have
centered around some form of temple
in which is found priesthood offering
sacrifice at the altar
"This church, dedicated today, links
itself with the Christian church which.
from the upper chamber of Jerusalem
to the catacombs and cathedrals of the
borne to humanity the blessings of re-
demption through the sacramental sys-
tenn established and placed in its keep
ing by the Divine Redeemer himself.
"There is a special cause for joy in
the fact that this church is dedicated
under the patronage of st. Patrick, the
apostle of Ireland, a saint whose
memory is deeply cherished by many
families in this parish because of the
race TO which they belong.
ExempIars of Faith
'It is natural for men to honor their
national heroes; the men who either
by craftsmanship or by success in battle
have won for the people the liberties
and privileges of citizenship. 1t is
natural for them to honor their great
men who as patriots, scholars, philan~
thropists or leaders of industry have
merited a place in the gratitude of the
people.
''This is no idle boast, for the world |
recognizes that the Irish to whose |
fathers st. Patrick preached are. in
large part, exemplars of the faith which |
their fathers received so that the nom |
Catholic world today, in many sections, |
regards the faith of the Irish and the |
Catholic church as synonymous. The
people ofour race are not only proud of
the religion which st. Patrick preached
but they are also proud of the splendid |
manifestation of faith which led to the |
upbuilding of the mighty structure Of
sanctity and scholarship which became |
characteristic even of the early Chris |
tian life of the Irish. Sanctity and
knowledge indeed go hand in hand as
the great eXponents of intelligent |
faith "