The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-11-10
REV. A. J. BARRON
Born in Burlington, Sept. II, 1873
Ordained August 81, 1881

Ordained August 81, 1881
Rev. A. J. Barron was born in Bur
lington, VT, September II, 1858 OF
Irish parentage. His first schooling
was obtained at the public school near
his home but later he completed his
grammar course the cathedral
school.
Early in life he manifested yoca-
tion to the priesthood and immediate
ly after completing his studies at the
parochial school in Burlington he
went to Montreal where he entered
the college of the Sulpican Fathers.
After finishing mis- course in the col
legiate department he continued his
studies in the philosophical and theo-
logical departments. He completed
his theological course with high hon
ors. receiving the degree Bachelor of
Sacred Theology (B. S. To-
On August 81, 1884 he was ordained
to the priesthood in the Immaculate
Conception cathedral in Burlington
by the late Rt. Rev, Louis De Goesbri-
and, who was at that time bishop of
the Catholic diocese of Burlington.
AS a priest Father Barron never
acted as a curate and has had but
three different parishes during the
quarter OF century which has clap
sed since his ordination.
He was first sent to Vergennes
where he remained six weeks. AT
that time the pastorate there also in
cluded the town of Charlotte. When
the late Rev. FIR. Francis Claver who
was for some time pastor in Rich
mond, died in France where he had
gone in search of health. Father Bar
ron was transferred by Bishop De
Goesbriand to that town.
Accordingly in October, 1884 he
went to Richmond where ne labored
for eight years with much success in
the Lords vinyard. He became deep
ly attached to the town and its people
who worked in harmony with their
pastor to further the ends of Christ's
religion.
In 1892 the late Rt. Rev. John S.
Michaud who was then pastor of st
Francis de Sales church in this town
was chosen 10 be the coadjutor bish-
op of the Burlington diocese. Father
Barron, who was at the time in
charge of the Richmond congregation,
was at the request of Coadjutor Mich
aud, appointed by the late Rt Rev.
De Goesbfiand pastor of st. Francis
de Sales parish on May IS, 1892.
The cornerstone of the handsome
new church edifce on West Main
street had been laid but three years
previous to this and the parish was
struggling under the heavy debt in
Cured during its construction Father
Barron at once set TO work TO raise
funds for the paying off the heavy
mortgage. During his pastorate in
this town by his zeal and ability and
the generosity of the people of Ben
nington he has had the pleasure of
seeing the debt dwindle down to few
thousand dollars.
Father Barron's efforts in this town
however, have not been confined to
the paying of the debt on the church.
The browning event in his work here
has been the purchase of the f. II.
Putnam estate and the construction
thereon of st. Francis de Sales acad-
envy. This model school building con
sidered by people who have travelled
extensively, to be unequaied in this or
any other state for the size of the
congregation, was built under his dir
ect supervision. The school was
erected according to the latest and
best approved sanitary principals,
which bespeaks the zeal of the pastor
to procure for the children of his
flock, not only sound education but
health and comfort as well.
In the past two years many impor
tant improvements have been made
or the church Beautiful stained
glass windows, one of the largest
gift to the pastor, have been placed
in the edifice. Electricians have just
completed installing electric lights
which will make the building one of
the best lighted in the state.
During the many years of his pas
torate in this town Father Barron has
won The respect and good will not
only of his parishioners but of the
people of the community as a whole.
No pastor of st. Francis de Sales
church has been so highly esteemed
or won as much favor among his peo-
pie His generosity has known no
bounds, where aid was needed. The
harmony which has always existed be-
tween the priest and his flock has
been the means of making the parish,
with its beautiful edifices, one of the
most prosperous in the state of Yer
mont.