The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-07
SAID FIRST MASS
 IN CITY OF BIRTH Thronged Edifice Greets Bridgeport Boy Fresh
 From the Holy, Oils Hundreds Kneel to
 Receive His Blessing Illuminating Sermon by Professor of Dunwoodie Seminary - Parents of Young Priest Present.

e St. Patrick's church was thronged yesterday at the 10'30 service by | friends and former school mates of Father James E. Moran. a native of | this city. it being the occasion of his | first mass.
 It was a solemn high mass and add ing to the innpressiveness of the cere-
 mony was the exquisite decorations of the altar and the beautiful illumination by hundreds of candles. Assisting
 Rothlauf of St. Joseph's Seminary Dunwodie, Yankers- N. r., deacon
 Rev. John Philip Foley, also of St. Jcseph's Seminary. cub deacon; Rev. Rev. James B. Nihill, master of cere- monies.
 The sermon of the occasion was de- livered by Rev. Francis J. Duffy,D.D., sisted at the ordination of Father Moran Saturday. In opening Father DuffE referred to the fact that the Christian church as left by Christ con. tained only a few hundred souls and that on one day St. Peter received 10 times as many. Christians as lived at the death of the Nazerene. This he said was an indication of the building up of the church and showed that it
 was Gods plan to leave it in the hands of a human priest.
 He spoke of the power given to the
 priest. of the kind of men that were called to the priesthood and the way in which they are trained. holding up
 Father Moran as a good example to them of that character and training. He congratulated the priest on the time and place. in which his work was to be done and the people to whom he was called to minister. the United States in the beginning of the 20th century.
 -xr- Catholic people of the United States, of their intelligent and faithful CO., operation with their priests in build ing up the church and also alluding with much feeling to the trustful and intimate relations between them and Talking of the young priest he said: 'I know what his feelings are and what he would have me say to you, and know that he does not wish thai should praise him. but that I should ask for him your prayers. His work is just beginning and if praise should be given it is to those whose work is brought to a glorious completion to- day. to the good pastor and priests <of the parish who have helped him by their example and encouraRement, and Christian family to whose sacrifice and devotion 1t is due. that he is offering up the holy sacrifice to-day.
 Men have different ideas of what constitutes pleasure in life. and be lfeve me there is no happiness to be c6mpared with the joy Of a Catholic father and mother as they bow their heads to receive the first blessing of their son nriest Of Jesus Christ Life has no joy so full. so pure. so holy. It has a touch of Heaven in it and it is joy that will not end in this world but will last forever.
 ''This is their day of triumph for their yec-- of sacrifice and generosity in the faith when they see their son lifting up the unspotted host and bringing Christ himself down within his hands as sacrifice once more for mankind. And they can look forward with consolation to the day to come when as they are passing from this world. the rites of Holy Mother church will be administered to thor1 not by stranger hands. but by their>0wn son. Gods priest.
 In closing Father Duffy asked the prayers of the congregation. not that the young priest should be famous or successful in a world way. but that he should always be a good priest devoted to the people and with a love of God in his heart so that he might offer up the Eoly mass every day for years to come with the same devotion with which he is offering it up to-day.
 At tte conclusion of the mass the Father Moran as boy. focked to the altar and received the blessing of the newly ordained priest.
 Father Moran was ordained at St Patricl<'s Cathedral in New York. Sat urday by Bishop Cusack and as he has been ordained in the archdiocese of New York he will be assigned to a church in New York shortly. He will remain with his parents in Saseo Hill. Southport. for short time and will then begin the duties of his vocation Mamhoe If Nav Vork ch.r;t;ae