The Irish standard., 1908-07-25
A PIONEER PRIEST. i.
Rev. John Kilkenny Propagated
the Faith in the West
Through the Medium of q Hum
Bile Hand Car.


was propagated in Illinois through tho
medium Of a humble hand car, lee
Rev. John Kilkenny, of 1894 ParneL
avenue, Chicago. Interestingly tell.
He thus recounts the missionary
hardships Of forty years ago. To ride.
to drive. to trample, to plod, to dc
through snow and to swim, throush
fifty miles of sparsely settled country,
to build half a dozen churches and
to give spiritual and temporal aid to
many thousands, has been part Of the
busy experience Of the aged CLERGY.
man. He now enjoys wel-de-
served rest. and will pass the remain
der Of his days among his books and in &
the study Of the classics that have
been the literary love of his life,
1T was when I was stationed ct
Lacon that found the handuar
mighty useful as means of clerical
transportation" said Father XIII
kenny. Il had charge Of all the mis-
sion work ranging over forty of fifty
miles. Some Of these miles g. man
couldn't ride. drive, walk or crawl
through in time to say Mass according
to schedule. In consequence I resort.
ed to the hand car. Along many a
mile of railroad have 1 been propelled
by the strong and vikings arms Of
parishioners. This was from 1854
to 1858, just before 1 came to st.
Pauls Church. Chicago. 1 had charge
from Lacon to Rock Island. Many
times have I ridden between Galva
and Kewanee on the car. I made
points. this way, although it looked
roundabout. that I could not make
any other way have been .crty-six
years priest. DR.. McGovern Of Lock-
port and I are the only men living
OF our class who were ordained by
Archbishop Kendrlck in Missouri in
1862. I was pastor of st. Paul's at tho
time of the fire. The church was
destroyed while / was journeytng to-
ward st. Louis. saw the blaze over
the city from the rear end of the train
as far away as Lockport. I did noe
dream my church had been burned.
1t was never rebuilt. The parish was
divided later and was sent to another
field.
Father Kilkenny was born in Co.
Mayo, Ireland, Nov. II, 1889. re came
to America in 1856, living unit! 1858
in Chicago and then going to st. Louis
to begin his education for the priest
hood at the Lazarst Seminary there.
His various charges after his crdina-
ton were: Kaukegan. one wear: Gall
ena, one year: Lacon, four years; st.
Paul's. Chicago, from 1868 until tho
fire. After the fire he was pastor at
Mackenzie two years. New Dublin
seven years and at Maytown up to
the time Of his retirement, about three
years ago. He built churches at Camp
Grove. Rapid City. Cavanna, Albany,
Gilbert Station and Lacon. Parishes
that he started alone now have a dozen
priests officiating. My. what changes
have come about since came to Chi
cago! There have been five bishops
In Chicago since came here. Here's
a desk that was saved from the fire.
1t was presented to me by the children
of ST. Pauls school.
Father Kilkenny spends much of his
time IN reading. He has gone through
carefully more than twenty histories
Of Ireland. He is familiar figure
in his neighborhood He often takes
a walk through the streets, and as hs
passes slowly along, the residents Of
the neighborhood all wish him The com.
fort and rest that his forty-six years
of active church work have earned
for him.