Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-10-05
Father White and Congregation
Have Occassin to Jubi-
late For.
From Its Small Beginning Much
Has Came to This
Church.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES SUNDAY

| More than ordinary interest at
taches to the celebration of the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedi-
cation of st. Frances of Rome
church in Clifton, which occurs to-
morrow, hence the Kentucky Irish
American devotes some of it's limited
space to a column about this church
and congregation, which it is to be
hoped will eventually have one of the
largest parishes and most beautiful
churches in the city of Louisville.
The principal services connected
with the silver jubilee of st. Frances
of Rome will be held tomorrow even
ing at 1880 o'clock, when the Very
Rev. James p. Cronin will officiate
at solemn vespers, to begin at 1880
o'clock. In the morning, at st.
Frances, the usual services will be
held at 1880 and 10 o'clock, and it is
expected by the rector that large
congregations will attend.
The Very Rev. James P. Cronin,
Vicar General of the diocese, will
officiate at the solemn vespers,
which will begin at 1880 o'clock, and
will deliver the sermon. Father
orator for the occasion, because he
knows of the vicissitudes the pastor
has suffered, and who can speak of
them intelligently, will say some
thing interesting.
Without making invidious COM
PARSONS tie Kentucky Irish Amer
lcan can say that the Rev. Thomas
w. White is one one of, the most
popular Catholic priests in the dio-
cese of Louisville His engaging per-
sonality makes him friendly with all
and those who know him love him.
Father White, the accomplished
pastor of st. Frances of Rome, fin
ished his classical les in Ireland.
seph s
Preston Paf lie.
Father White ~ wev-
idenced by the - Mas a
College at Bardstowh in 1887. To
recur to Father Whites work, which
is the main thing in this brief re-
sumo of st. Frances of Rome congres
cation, it is interesting and impor-
tant to recall that the present rector
built the church now in use and
has aspirations to build another and
much larger.
All of us are apt to forget the
vicissitudes which our forebears suf-
fered in order that the faith might
be planted in the wilderness. 1t was
almost in the wilderness that Father
White, in 1887, first established the
Church of st. Frances of Rome, at
Payne street and Cavewood avenue,
the present beautiful location of the
church and parochial school. At that
time there were but a dozen families
who attended at st. Frances. At the
end of fifteen years there were but
fifteen families. Today he has
175 families attendant upon his
parish. This is wonderful work,
and must certainly be appreciated by
the Right Reverend Bishop and those
in higher authority.
A word or two about Father White
will not be amiss. Finishing his
classical studies in ireland he came
to America in his young manhood,
and entering the classes of st. Jo-
seph's College at Bardstown ac-
Quilted himself with credit in philo-
sophical accomplishments, His theo-
logical studies were finished at
Preston Park Seminary. He was or
dained priest June 26, 1881. His
first three years in the ministry were
spent i'm the missions OF Casey
county, and his labors there are not
yet forgotten.
In 1884 Father White went abroad
for recreation and study. Upon his
return, in 1885, he was honored by
the Right Rev. Bishop McCloskey,
himself a distinguished scholar, in
being appointed to the chair OF
classics in st. Joseph's College at
Bardstown. He filled this position
with credit to himself and to the
college, until he was commanded by
the Right Rev. Bishop, in 1887, to
assume the pastorate of the new
congregation Of st. Frances Of Rome.
His work there is too we'll known to
dwell upon. Father White is a
gentleman of engaging personality.
Although he has labored long in the
pastoral field he looks young, even
boyish. He is one of the most pop
ular clergymen in Louisville and
deseryedly so.