Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-05-25
Multitude Witnessed Blessing
OtSt. Charles Borromeo
Church.
Right Rev. Abbot Obrecht and
Many Priests Were
Present.
FATHER HAYES GREAT SERMON

With the sun shining brightly and
Pheasant breezes blowing a multitude
OF people filled the streets surround
ing st. Charles Borromeo church last
sunday morning to witness the
blessing of the imposing new edifice
That Will stand as the crowning life
work of Rev. Charles Raffo. Right
Rev. Bishop oDonaghue conducted
the impressive ceremonies. which he
gan at 10 o'clock. The procession
started from the old church, led by
crossbearer and fifty altar boys ar
rayed in white and red. These were
followed by the clergy and the
Bishop, all in gorgeous vestments,
except the nuns and members Of
the FRANCISCAN order, whose austere
habits offered a striking contrast.
vending their way around the edi-
flee the Bishop and clergy entered
the church, and when the affairs and
Interior had been blessed the doors
OF st. Charles were thrown open to
the public. Many prominent Off
cials and citizens witnessed the cere-
monies. among them being Lieut..
Gov. McDermott and Mayor Head.
Solemn Pontifical mass was cele-
brated by Bishop O'Donaghue,. who
was assisted by the Very Rev. J. p.
Cronin, assistant priest; the Rev.
Francis Felten, deacon of mass;
Father Seraphim, o. M. G., SUBJ
deacon; the Rev. Louis c. Ohle, first
assistant deacon; the Rev. e. M.
Bachmann, second assistant deacon:
the Rev. P. Monahan and the Rev.
John Kalaher, masters of ceremony.
In the sanctuary were the Right
Rev. E. Obrecht, o. G. R., Abbott Of
Gethsemani; the Revs. c. P. RaSsaa
Earl Willett, e. Williams, Joh2
0. P. Ackermann, Thomas
Patrick Walsh, Father G.
OF. NJ: Father Michael,
Father Ignatius, G. r.; thd
Al. Melody. Martin o. ConnS
Pfeiffer and G. w. Schd
Father Wilfred, c. p; the
,WilliaR epehI, -R---H--lysster-
mann, A. G. Thome, E. Schmidt, E.
Boes and H. A. Brady; Father
Richard, o. F. M, and the Rev.
G.. Hays, of Bowling Green,
who preached the dedicatory sermon.
Rev. Thomas Hayes, of Bowling
Green, a lifelong friend and class
mate of Father Raffo, delivered an
eloquent sermon, reviewing the
growth of the parish of st. Charles.
from its foundation in 1888 until to-
day, when the dream of the pastor
and congregation was realized in the
beautiful edifice Just dedicated. He
said in part:
1--WE have assembled here this
to witness the dedication of
a new and glorious temple to the
he service of God and to assist at
he first mass that shall be offered
within its blessed walls. We are
lere to mark the opening of new
,hapter in the history of this congre-
cation. The occasion is a grand and
'estive one and stirs feelings of Joy
md gratitude that can not find ade-
luate utterance. 1t inspires brightest
lopes and holds up golden promises
or the future of the parish. II also
lwakens dear and sacred memories
If the past, when Just twenty-four
years ago, December 8, 1888, wit
lessed the humble beginning OF this
That day, and on the
rery ground on which the new
.hurch stands today, was dedicated
modest, unpretentious frame
hurch, and placed under the patron
Lge of st. Charles Borromeo. The
title church stood at that time on
he outskirts of the city, in the midst
# a bleak common. Into its APP
,arently unfruitful soil was cast the
little grain of mustard seed, and st.
Charles began its mission of diffus-
ng in the extreme western part or
he city of Louisville the benign and
,levating prime pies and teachings OF
he Catholic church"
Following the benediction Bishop
)'Donaghue addressed the congrega-
ion. congratulating them on the
Iandsome church that was theirs,
nd told them to continue the good
york SO we'll begun. After mass, a
anauet was given the visiting
lergy in the school building adjoin-
ng the church, at which thirty-five
lergymen were present.
The church was again thronged In
be afternoon when the Bishop ad-
linistered the sacrament OF con-
Irmation to a class that numbered
so.