The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-05
POPULAR
PRIEST IS
To LEAVE
Especial to THE TINES


East Chicago Ind, March 5.-Father
Joseph Bake of St. Stanislaw's church,
one of the best beloved priests that
ever filled a pulpit in northern Indi-
ana, is about to be lost to this dis
trict having recently been assigned
to take charge of a parish in Michigan
/ City. Rev. Peter Budinek Of Terre
/ Coupee is to succeed Rev. Bake
Practitioners Appeal 10 Bishop.
| After the members of the church real
lied fully that their pastor was really
going to leave them. many of them
Wept, and Father Bake himself was
not unmoved. A movement was at once
started among the Pensioners to make
a personal appeal to Bishop H. j. Alerd-
ing of Fl Wayne. who ordered the
change TO get him to reconsider his
action, but Father Bake dissuaded
those who were leading the movement
from persisting in carrying out their
intention, but he could not prevail upon
them to give up their efforts TO retain
him, absolutely. However, those who
had been in favor of visiting the bishop
gave up this idea and instead sent a
written petition to Bishop Alerding
with the same object in view
Bishop UnreIentinG.
4
he was acting for the best in ordering
| the transfer and remained firm in his
decision.
While the East Chicago parishioners
were thus engaged, the members of
Father Budinek's flock in Terre Coupee
were not idle They also were loath to
part with the priest who had been
| guiding their spiritual welfare, and
they, too solicited his retention. But
| this appeal had no more effect upon
Bishop Alerding than the East Chicago
petition had had. and the result is that
| the change. as originally contemplated.
| is to be made Rev. Bake will preach
his last sermon in the East Chicago
house of worship next Sunday and the
| change Is TO go into effect March 10.
The change is in the nature of a pro-
| motion for Father Bake as it Is also
for his successor. The Michigan City
parish is considerably larger than that
at East Chicago, and the field presents
a wider scope of usefulness.
Came Four Years Ago.
! Father Bake came to East Chicago
four years ago last November. When
he took the helm at st. Stanislaw's the
! church was in debt approximately SIS
900. The parish consisted Of 100 fam
lilies and during his regime has been
increased to 800. The parochial school
has undergone a great Improvement
The attendance has doubled and the
capacity of the buildings increased. In
fact. an entire new building has been
constructed and the old building inn
proved. The church has also been i'm
proved with an addition to accommo
date the extra parishioners.
Further than that, Father Bake has
been the leading spirit in furthering a
movement to erect a new church and
a substantial fund has already been
started to provide for this improve
ment.
A Native of Indiana.
Miss gnes Bake. q sister of Father
Bake, who has acted as his house
keeper since he came to East Chicago
viii accompany him and serve in 9
similar capacity in his new parish.
Father Bake is a native Of Indiana
his birthplace having been Otis, Indi-
ana. He came to the East Chicago par
ish from North Judson. where he was
the pastor IN the Polish Catholic
church,,
Father Bake takes his transfer phil
osophically, remark.ng that priest Il
like a soldier. in that his wishes and
desires are not consulted. but he goes
whittier he is sent in obedience to hi!
bishops orders.
Promises Popularity Tor Successor.
-