Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1910-12-03
st. Cecilia's Church the Crown
ing Ambition of His
Career.
VIII Be S0lemnly Dedicated to
Gods Service Decem-
Der IL.
Brief Sketch of Busy. Life and
Work He Has
Done.
IS A TRUE IRISH sOGGARTH

The dedication of st. Cecilia's
new church will take place with SOL
emn and impressive services on
Sunday morning, December IL.
Right Rev. Bishop O'Donaghue will
conduct the ceremonies and will be
assisted by many of the priests of
the diocese. He will also preach
the sermon. In the evening there
will be solemn vespers, benediction
and sermon by Vicar General
Cronin. The church viii be richly
furnished and is one of the finest
In the diocese. Right here 1t is
proper to say a few words about
Father Brady, who looks upon the
dedication of st. Cecilia's as the
browning glory of his priestly life.
The story Of Father Brady's min
istry is an interesting one. After a
six years preparatory course at st.
Patrick's College at Cavan, Ire
land, his native town, he passed the
examinations for and entered All
Hallow's College, where after a rigid
course in logic, philosophy and the
ology he was ordained to the priest
hood for the diocese of Louisville
June "a, 1873. In the early autumn
of the same year he arrived in
Louisville and presented his
obedience to the late Bishop Nc
Closkey. His first appointment was
to Harrodsburg, Mercer county,
whence after a short stay he was
sent to Raywick, and from there in
1874 he was appointed to Calvary
and the great Casey missions. After
two years of untold labors in these
arduous missions his health failed
him and In 1876 he was appointed
professor of classics and church his
tory at st. Joseph's College, Bards-
town. In 1878 he was commissioned
to take charge of the Danyille mis-
sions with residence at Danville.
Here ne labored for Fifteen years
with most remarkable success. Dur
ing his administration he erected
and paid for four churches and min
istered to the spiritual needs of the
faithful of the eight counties that
comprised the mission. His great
zeal and continued success kept him
constantly IN the eye of his Bishop,
and frequently when the Bishop
knew that Father Brady had a few
days surcease from his labors Joined
him at his Danville home and en-
joyed his we'll known hospitality.
In 1893 the lamented Father
Maclin died, and although during
his passionate he paid off more than
$4,000 of the debt of st. Cecilia's
he left an unpaid balance of
$4,000. It was at this moment
that the Bishops eye again rested
on his capable and successful friend
at Danville and he lost no time in
requesting Father Brady to take
up the burden. And burden 1t was.
st. Cecilia's was old and dilapidated,
the priests house unfit for habita-
ton, the school insufficient, the
whole place desolate, and all that
Father Brady found on his arrival
was a bunch of falling buildings.
But he also found a biggar bunch
Of tho biggest-hearted people that
ever gathered round a priest. They
soon found out that the good father
'shad q way with him" that was ire
sistable, and the whole congregation
soon fell victims to his many ex-
cellent traits. This is not fulsome
praise. Listen to what he and his
regation-working hand in
hand--have done since he came
among them.
First of all he built fine
parochial residence that he might
conserve his health for the work he
was about to undertake. The school
needed improvements and 1t got
them. The poor old church that
looked like the last rose of summer
was soon adorned with frills and
frescoes-and with all this going on
the $4,000 debt was rapidly disap-
pearing. A few years ago he an
nounced his intention of building q
new st. Cecilia's. The result Is the
magnificent temple that adorns the
corner of st. Cecilia and Twenty
fifth streets, and nearly every dollar
of the $4,000 that it cost is paid
for. Here certainly is love Of God
and neighbor admirably demon
strated and crowned with success.