The Cairo bulletin., 1911-05-09
~ ]. CILLEN or ST. J0SEPHS
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS A PRIEST
Anniversary Celebration with Impressive Ceremony
Many People and Visiting Priests Attend---
Elaborate Program-.-$500 Presentr

| year, 1908, he had this fine, modern
sanitary school honse built and
| equipped at a cost OF about $4,000.
! The school has continued 10 flourish
| under our good pastors care and now
has l75 children in attendance They
are under the immediate control Of
the able and pious Sisters de Notre
Dame. who have raised the school 10
high standard Of efficiency.
Next to his zeal for the welfare OF
the children, comes Father Gillen's
great interest in the spiritual welfare
of the men OF the parish. The Ladies,
may god bless them, are naturally
so goqI, SO religious, and so attentive
to their church duties ;aat they don't
need 10 be warned often on the score
of neglect Orr belove~ pastor like
the Coed Shepherd in tle Gospel,
carefully looks after his flock. He
exercises fatherly care over his
men folks" and his heart is delighted
when they live privately and publicly
In accordance with the teaching OF
our holy religion. In that event ne
feels sure that no matter what pri-
waite or public trust may be eontided
into their hands they wiz tc
their fellow citizens, irrespective OF
religious or political party lines, a
Square deal" His earnest desire is
that his people should live Christian
lives, which means not only 10 De ac-
tive members OF the church, but also
TO be respectable members OF society,
With due respect for law and Tor aw-
full authority. as well as being just
nd honorable in all their dealings
With their fellow-men. regardless OF
ifferences in religion, or other mat.
,ers. This is Father Gillen's con-
slant teaching, by preeept ami eX'
nipple, and his heart is always glad
tened when he finds that MS people
oilow this rule. But the good pas
tor is grieyed il anyone still bearing
he Catholic name ,cloaks With IL al
reprehensible life from which all
hurch influence has been eliminated.
The true Catholic is always bet.
ter citizen, more patriotic aand more
self-respecting for his countrys good
because he Is true Catholic. Hell
must of necessity, be better citizen,
for the church teaches him that loveI
Of country follows next 10 love of
God. Our non-Catholic bretnern mayl
rest assured that when they find al
Catholic who is truly practical in his
eigion they can. as a rule. depend
upon his honesty and his patriotism,
and, poor. taough he may be, ne viii
i is the nominal Catholic, the man,
Who makes light Of religion, that
brings reproach upon the church Oy
his disregard of law and order.
Father Gillen is first OF all priest
OF God. true Shepherd of souls,
lie has always shown himself as a
kind father to mis- flock looking a.
ways to their spiritual advancemant,t
preaching and instructing and warn
ing us of the necessity OF leading
christian lives. His teachings and hisl
life have been such as TO unite his con-
gregation into one harmonious body |
working together for the advancement
of religion, without any trace OF dist
.ord or dissension. As man. Fam
er Gillen is naturally modest almost |
to the point of diffidence. He Is not
what the politicians would call. d
good mixer" He has not, perhaps, a |
vide circle OF acquaintance outside |
The ranks of his Co-religionists bu;
hose Of our separated brethren who
know him esteem him very highly.
Though tactful, he is not diplomatic,
5 not man OF policy, but speafs
lut his sentiments in no Ambiguous
anguage. and cares not for the popu.
arity of his utterauces You know
wat he means when he gives ar
opinion, hence there is little oppor |
unity for misunderstanding in deal
ing with him. Such is, in part, the
personality OF the good priest whom
we honor and congratulate tonight.
ct US hope and pray thar he may
Ge spared for many years to come, do
ng Gods work on earth as effectively
Is in the past, and that In 1886, our
everend iubilarian may ,e:vDrate his
GOLDEN jubilee amidst the congratu,
lations of friends VINO may love ten
dearly, and yenerate him as hishiyl
as We, the present parishioners OF
II. Joseph's parish
Other Addresses.
Rev Fathers l.. w. Lammert and
John d. Diepenbrock We're both on
the program for shor addresses. but
as neither was presnt Father Gelmar.
tin OF East st. Louis was called upon
to make few remarks, which were
very complimentary to the hospitality
of the parishioners, Mayor Parsons
and the citizens of Cairo generally.
There was no place equal TO Cairo and
Mayor Parsons was the prince of hos
pitality.
The response to all the addresses
made complimentary to him was made
by Father Gillen in his happiest vein.
He said he had a great opinion n
Cairo and her people. In all his life
as priest he had never been address
ed by harsh words by anyone. He
mad been brought in contact with the
nj a |