Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-08-31
Large Congregation Assisted at
st. AnthOny's Church
Sunday.
Father Anthony Leo HOdapp's
Entry Upon PriestIy
Duties.
Was Ordained Saturday by the
Right Rev. Bishop
O'DOnaghue.
FATHER LEO breaches SERMON

FATHER LEO breaches SERMON
Rev. Anthony Leo Hodapp, whC
was raised to the dignity OF the
priesthood by Right Rev. Deni:
O'Donaghue, Bishop of Louisville
last Saturday morning, celebrated
his first holy mass in st. Anthony's
church, Twenty-third and Market
Sunday morning in the presence of 9
large congregation. Long before the
hour announced crowds of worship.
ers-friends, relatives, schoolmates
and neigh ghbors-flocked to the
church until the seating capacity was
taxed to its utmost. It was truly a
day of exultation and Joy, not
alone for the young priest, his par
ents and relatives, but for all who
shared in the blessing of Father
Hodapp's first mass. The altar was
a bower of plants and flowers and
in the sanctuary were many priests
whose prayers we're for a long and
successful career for Father HodaDp
as a laborer in the vineyard OF the
Master.
Father Anthony, as he now will
be called. was escorted from the
Franciscan convent by Fathers
Raphael, Engelbert and Victor. who
were his assistants at the mass, and
thirty altar boys in their black cas-
socks and white surplices; three
children representing Faith, Hope
Charity and little girl who acted
as bride, depicting the marriage OF
the young priest to the church. An
augmented choir of twenty-five
voices sang Hayden's Third mass,
under the direction of Prof. Leo
Kollross. At the offertory Handel's s
Hallelujah was sung. The Very
Rev. Leo Greulich, of Syracuse, n.
Y. Provincial of the Order of Minor
Gonventuals pd former rastor Of
81 AEth hasap 1llEho-was- hera for the
purpose, delivered an eloquent dis
course on the priesthood. in which he
said:
with the command of the Master,
10 teach all nations ringing in their
ears, and the fires of Pentecost rest
ing upon their heads, Christ's poor
apostles started out to spread the
gospel over all the earth. For more
han nineteen hundred years their
successors have been perpetuating
he work, and today the church still
S sending her young priests to
preach Christ crucified with the Holy
s.fN f.,f mi
ordination. From every tribe and
nation under the sun, and from every
walk in life she is recruiting the
'anks. The splendor and the glory
If kings fade into nothingness before
fod's priesthood, for the priest
s to stand in the court and the
of the King of kings
md Lord of lords, and at his
command the great God of heaven
md earth comes down upon the
lltar to be the food of the world
md to dwell with us as He promised.
But with. this awful power. this IN
dignity, there is another
ide. The deacon as he stands before
he Bishop to receive the Holy Ghost
through the imposition of hands has
urned his back upon all that the
world holds most dear. Unlike the
ich young man he has needed the
iaster's voice and given all for his
lessed service. Father he is to be, |
father to the poor and the
rphan; friend to those who have no /
ther friend; rebuker of the sinful |
nd unjust; guide Of erring souls and |
omforter in time of trial and trou-
lie. No night is too dark, no storm
90 great, no danger too threatening,
10 disease too loathsome TO keep him |
ack when he has been called to the |
'edside of the dying. Disturbed |
rom his sleep, probably when HIS |
'ody is racked with pain, he hears |
ONE member of his flock or prob |
bly, for one whom he has never |
numbered as his own. is near 10 |
eath. Quickly he dresses, steals into
he silent and darkened church, |
where the little lamp only is keeping !
gatch before the tabernacle, quickly !
aking the Prisoner of Love from his /
ell he hurries through the sleeping
ity with the precious burden. That /
) where the reality of our faith is
hown. The dying man who prob
bly, has forgotten God for many
ears pours his sins and sorrows into
he ears OF the priest. only to be
omforted and assured that the God
4 love is ready and willing to for
i've all. When the words of abso-
ltion have been spoken he places
he Viaticum on the parched lips and
he saved soul departs with Jesus.
he mediator, as pleader at the
hrone OF justice. Oh, the priests
lie is one of sacrifice and pain. but
ihen that inevitable hour comes for.
i'm he also knows that his Lord Is
nth him as really as He was with
is disciples on the road to Damas-
u.s."
At the close OF the mass the young
riest offlclated at benediction OF
he most blessed sacrament, after
'hich he impaired his blessing 10
he hundreds present. In the after
Don there was a reception at the
ome OF his father, John Hodapp. the
Iell known barytone singer OF Louis
lille.
Father Anthony took his course OF