Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-05-06
Burdens the Hearts of the Peo-
pie of st. Williams
Parish.
Rev. Father Murphy's Death
Came After Months OF
Illness.
Well Beloved Pastor MOurned
Throughout the Entire
Diocese.
SOLEMN REQUIEM CEREMONIES

The Rev. Father Denis J. Murphy,
one of the best beloved pastors in
the diocese of Louisville, died at SITS.
Mary and Elizabeth Hospital on
Saturday afternoon. He had been
Ill for three years and suffered from
complication of ailments. When
the word was flashed over the city
that Father Murphy was dead there
was profound sorrow, and on Sun
day morning prayers were offered
for the repose of his soul in every
parish church. In Father Murphy's
church, st. Williams, the sorrow
was most profound. He built the
church. He had ministered to the
people in sickness and death. He
had laughed with them in joy; he
had consoled them in sorrow. Some
Of them he had married. He had
christened their children. He had
buried their dead. To them Father
Murphy was a veritable ''soggarth
aroon," and his memory will long be
kept green in the hearts of the peo-
pie of st. Williams.
Requiem services were held at
st. Williams church on Tuesday
morning. At O'Clock the office of
the dead was chanted and every
priest in the diocese who was not
confined by other duties was pres
ent in the sanctuary. The solemn
requiem mass began at $3.50 o'clock
with the Very Rev. James p. Cronin,
v. G., as celebrant; Rev. Father
Sesundo Mensa, deacon; Rev. Father
c. r. Ruff, subdeacon, and Rev.
Father Daniel ]. Gallagher, master
Of ceremonies. st. Williams choir
was assisted by st. Mary Magdalen's
choir in rendering the music Of the
mass.
The casket containing the remains
was brought into the church on
Sunday afternoon and placed at the
foot of the sanctuary. The parish
toner's formed a guard of honor
and the remains were never ssone
until placed in the grave. Day and
night throngs of people from every
part of the city visited st. Williams
while the remains lay in state.
There were tears as well as prayers
for Father Murphy. The church
could not hold all those who sought
admittance on Tuesday morning
The Very Rev. Father Cronin, who
celebrated the mass, also preached
the sermon and paid fitting tribute
to the memory OF the deceased
priest.
Lone linz ~ oarrfaooc hare fha
priests and Borrowing parishioners
to st. Louis cemetery, where all
that is mortal of Father Murphy was
laid at rest in the beautiful lot set
aside for the priests of the diocese.
The pall-bearers were chosen from
st. Williams parish and were Con J..
Ford, John Keaney, Joseph Lynch,
Rodney Hall. Michael Maloney, Will
lam Leach, George Vonsick and
Thomas Thompsonwest.
Father Murphy was born in Bos-
ton. Mass. thirty-eight years ago,
and received his early education
there. At an early age he evinced
vocation for the priesthood and
pursued his theological studies at
st. Bernard's Seminary at Rochester,
N. Y. He was ordained there In
1898 and Immediately came to the
Louisville diocese. Father Murphy
was at once assigned to st. Johns
parish. where he was assistant to the
venerable Father Bax. At the end
Of two weeks he was transferred to
st. Mary Magdalen's. which was
then known as the Bishops chapel.
There he remained for two years,
when the late Bishop McCloskey
charged him to establish a new par
Ish in the vicinity OF Thirteenth and
Oak streets.
Fathr Murphy was young, tall,
stately, handsome and magnetic. Al
first he had scant material to work
upon and many obstacles to over
come He did both and the hand
some Church OF st. William will Ions
be a monument TO his memory. Az
priest he was a ministering angel
to his flock; as a man he entered
into their joys and public enter
prIses. Father Murphy made friends
wherever he went and was esteemed
by men OF every faith. He had also
built a rectory suitable for his re-
quirements and a parochial school
The school was the object OF his con
slant attention. For three years
he had been in ill-health, but held
out manfully until the day OF hil
death. II was only few hours be
fore the end that no consented Il
go TO the hospital.
Father Murphy Is survived b,
three sisters and four brothers. al
residing IN Boston. There Is mons
In the community Of Louisville whs
will not vouchsafe the prayer. ma,
, his soul rest In peace."