The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-13

pastor of St. Patrick's church. East
ST. Louis. H., which has been one of
the largest congregations in the Bel e.
vile diocese. Like his predecessor,
I he was tilial TO priestly duty. anil dur
ling the smallpox and other epidemics
he, Unknown to all but the Master
whom he served. made unsolicited
Visits to the rest house ard the lowly
bowels OF disease and poverty. and by
words Of comfort and con olat.on
IncTyed the soul for its passage to
eternity.
Succeeding Father Sweeney was
Rev. j. Ecker!e. who gave place to
Rev. Thomas Day. who in November
1881 was Succeeded by Rev. Chas. j,
lE2chmann. to whose almost super
human efforts we are indebted for
the magnificent church editlce IN
which the jubilee function is being
held.
! Born in the city of 1el,e lille. ILL.,.
January 18th, 1862, Father T3chmann
spent his boyh3od AMI early manhood
years in that city. attending the FARO
chial schools and finally graduating
| from the Catholic High seAoo'. be
Viewing himself called to the priest
hood. he matriculated in st. Joseph's
| college near Dillingham;, ILL.,, but on
account OF in health. at the end of
three terms, was Obliged to leave col
! lege. and lie returned to his home. ON
the advice of his physician, he en-
gagged as an apprentice in a machine
! shop in his native city and continued
service as a journeyman for five
years. when. his health being restored
| he resumed his studies in st. Joseph
college, from which he graduated with
the highest honors in the year 1885.
After graduation he took a full course
of Philosophy in St. Francis Semi
nary, near Milwaukee, Wis. To rounl
out the fill course necessary to eliei-
bility to ordination. he crossed over
to Europe and took full theological
course in the famous Austrian uni-
| versity. in Innsbruck, Tyrol. On
April It'll 1889, he was ordained, and
celebrated his first mass on Easter
Sunday, 1889. assisted by thirty-fiye
American students studying at the
Innsbruck University. Returning TO
America he was stationed in Mount
Vernon, H.. where he remained until
November 1891, when he was trans
lerred to Cairo, Ill. His admirable
executive ability and rare fervor as
GODS minister, are made manifest, in
a concrete form in the magnificent
irock edifice, within whose walls the
jubilee function will attract hundreds
of orr citizens of all creeds, during
the present wee Impaired hea.tn
forced Father Eochmana to seek a
more favorable climate, and he was
rendered the pastorship of rairie du
Rocher, Illinois, and Father James
Gillen. the then incumbent of the
latter place was transferred to St
| Patrick's.
Father Gillen continued the good
work Of his predecessor for two years
iwhen in May. 1904. he was placed in
charge of the St. Jcsephs parish,
this city. replacing Rev. J. B. Diepen-
brock, who is now stationed at Car
lyle, Ill.
| The vacancy at St Patrick's was
Immediately filed by the transfer Of
Rev. James Downey from St. Francis
vile. Illinois,
| A native of Ireland, a land most
pr0lific of the finest types of the Cath
Ollie priesthood, he made his prelimi
nary studies at the Christian Broth
er's college at Cork. Ireland. Having
! mastered the fundamental branches
Iof that famous school. in the year
1885 he entered as a student, for a
rigid course in Classics and Philos-
ophy in St. Augustine college, Dublin
After two years he was sent to
Rome whore he made special study
in Philosophy at the College of the
! Apollinari.
Leaving Rome he went to the Uni
yersity OF LOuyain, Belgium. where>he
remained until 1892. when he was
ordained priest of the Catholic
lchurch. Shortly after ordination, he
was appointed assistant to the late
Father p. j OHanoran. of st. Pat
rick's church, East St Louis, Illinois
In this subordinate position he served
for seven years, when he was made
pastor of the parish at St Francis
vile, Illinois At the end of five
years, in May 1904--he assumed his
present charge.
In this brief historical and bio
graphical recital. we have spanned