Evening journal., 1908-04-30
FUNERAL OF REV.
JOHN ]. FEDIGAN
Large Attendance Of Clergy
at the ObSequieS at
Villa Nova To-day

Archbishop Ryan presided and pro-
nsunoed the absolution OF the body at
tn, obseauies Of the Very Rev John J.
Fed.lan. o. S. A.. formerly Of Whining
ton. this morning, in st. Thomas Church,
villa Nova. TO show his esteem fos the
former provincial Of the Augustinian by
attending the funeral, the Archbishop cur
tailed his visit and returned last night
frsn New York. where he had gone to
ia. ticirate at the centennial celebration
Of that diocese.
Practically all the prominent Angus
tiniaus OF the country and many secular
priests took part in the service. The u-
vine Office OF the dead was chanted pre-
viots TO the solemn requiem mass, which
vas ,c,cl iated by the Rev. M J. Gu
agility. %. s. A.. provincial, with the lSev
l. l.. Ncshane o. S. A.. OF Atlantic CITY,
as deacon, and the Rev. II. A. Gallagher
d. ). A.. sLt deacon. The Rev. A j. VI
ger @. S. A.. was mastar OF cerempnies
DR.. peurey preached.
THE body OF Father Fedigan rested on
a catafaique rear the main altar. II had
been borne there last night by m9'irn'
I'M procession from the adjoining monas'
terry. where Father Fedigan died iast
Nandav. in the procession were tho
youths Of Siila Nova Academy. the entire
student body Of the college Augustinlan
rsvices. brsihers and priests. The oihco
~ the dead was recited at .. m, and all
niqbt long rcembers Of the Augusttman
order remained on guard with the o9dy.
relieving the mass this morning intse-
,nent was n ade in the monastic cemets 3
adjoining.
Among the Delaware clergymen who
attended the funeral were the Rev. Faith
ers ]. p. ouigley. L. j. Mealey Edward
n Mevelgh. OF this city and I. +. Wal
dron Of Dover.
Father Fedigan passed away after ferty
wears OF active work as the founder Of
missions. He was born April q. 1Sis, in
Rathbran, county Meath. ireland. and
educated at st. Mary's College, Whining
ton. In 1854 he went abroad to enter upon
his novitiate and four years later he was
ordained at the Cathedral in Philadelphia
by Bishop shanahan. Of Harrisburg.
In November of that year he began
teaching Latin at villa Nova, but soon af-
terward was assigned to Haverford Mis-
sion now known as St. Denis Church. at
Haverford. In 1863 he was sent to Cam
bridge, N Y. fifteen miles from Albany.
where. in five years, he transformed
struggling little congregation into a large
and hourishing parish. Afterward. for
three years, he was rector Of church AZ
Cars~~ge. n. Y.
Faunvr Fedigan was elected prior ana
president of villa Nova College in ISIS
This office ne held two years. when he
gave il up, TO engage more actively in
the mission field. He opened a station az
Reeseville, now Berwyn, and in 1850 went
to Atlantic City then a small town. Thers
he built st. Monica's Church. 1t was de-
stroyed by fire in 1856 but in year Father
Fedigan had another and larger structure
standing in its place.
In 1898 he was elected provincial OF the
Order Of St Augustine, with supervision
Of the eighteen or more houses in the
United States, Canada and Cuba. He re-
moved to Bryu Mawr. and it was at this
time he undertook the work Of erecting
the structures which now form the prin-
cipai buildings Of villa Nova College
Three years afterward he had accom-
plished the task. and had cleared the
buildings. which csst ssec.eeo, fren debt.