The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-09
BISHOP RIcg's CONSIDERATION
Sketch Of the Life Of the New Bishop
Of Burlington


The Boston Pilot one Of the lead
ing Catholic papers Of New England
gives the following account of the
plans for the conservation Of Bishop
Rice:
Rt Rev Joseph J. Rice, d d., for
merly pastor of st. Peters church,
Northbrdge. Mass, will be consecra-
ted Bishop OF the Diocese of Burling-
ton, VT, in succession to the late Rt.
Rev. John S. Michaud, d. d., on
Thursday of next week in the Cathe-
dral of the Immaculate Conception,
Burlington. The ceremony will begin
at 1890 a. m The conservation pre-
late will be Rt Rev. Thomas d. Bea-
ven, d. d., Bishop of Springfield,
Mass, and the preacher will be Rt.
Rev. ID. f. Feehan, d. d.. Bishop of
Fall River. Bishop Rice was at one
time curate at ST. Bernards church.
Fitchburg, during the passionate of
Bishop Feehan A large number of
prelates and priests will attend the
ceremony.
Bishop Rice is a native of Leicester
Mass, and was born on December 6,
1871. He studied in the parochial
school and graduated with honors
from the Leicester Academy and also
from Holy Cross College in 1891. He
made his philosophical studies in the
Grand Seminary, Montreal, and his
theological course at st. Bonaven-
lures College, Allegheny, n. Y. He
was ordained on August 20, 1894 in
St Margaret's, Old Orchard, Me-, by
Bishop O'Connell, of the Diocese of
Portland, now the Archbishop OF
Boston, During the next two years
he took special courses in the Rom
an University, and In 1896 was award
ed the degree of doctor Of divinity.
He was loaned to the Diocese of
Portland, Me, at the request of Bish-
op OConnell, and was assigned to st.
Athanasius' church, Rumford Falls.
He also served in other parishes in
Maine.
On returning to the Diocese of
Springfield, Father Rice was made
curate at st. Bernard's church, Fitch
burg Later he ministered in the
parishes Of Notre Dame, Pittsfeld, st
Roch, oxford and at St. Patrick,
Whitinsville He was then loaned to
the Archdiocese OF Boston and be-
came professor of philosophy in st.
Johns Seminary, Brighton, serving
IN that capacity for two years.
On January /, 1908, Father Rice
was given charge of the new parish
of st. Peter, Northbridge. formerly
a mission Of st. Patrick's Parish,
Whitinsvllle. He entered on the du.
ties of his new field OF labor with
characteristic energy and soon had
one Of the best organized parishes
In the diocese His labors here ex.
tended over a period OF about six
years, until his elevation to the see
OF Burlington three months ago
He recently took formal leave OF
the members of ST. Peters Parish on
which occasion he announced that he
had made donation of $1,000 for q
new altar. He also referred to the
gift TO the parish OF a tract OF land
valued at $4,000, by non-Cathollc
Harry T. Within.
In the course Of his remarks Bish
op Rice recalled to the parishioneri
six years ago and compared that will
the present flourishing condition o
the parish. II now has property es
tlmated TO be worth $4,000. DurinI
the six years mortgage Indebted
ness OF $4,000 was liquidated ant
there is now In the treasury $40
making a total financial showing OF
the part OF the parlshioners Of $2i
400.