The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-13

st. Joseph's r. C. Church of Madison
avenue, commonly called the German
Catholic parish of Bridgeport is to
leave this city Tuesday, January
21, on the Mauretania for Europe. He
has been granted a leave of absence
for a period of one year which term
may be extended if his health requires
While it may not be generally known,
the energetic pastor of st. Joseph's
has for some time been troubled with
an affection of the heart 1t has not
reached a, serious stage but the Skillful
Specia lists who have examined him
have advised that he give up his parish
duties and seek restoration to health
in some quiet place where there viii
be a complete change of scenery and
climate.
Father Dahme has been loath to
originally advised months ago to re-
linquisf pastoral activities he stuck to
his post hoping that the ailment might
wear away and that he would be able
to continue his duties in the filed
where he accomplished so much.
Two weeks ago he was told that he
must make up his mind to lay down
his work and Bishop Milan, though
regretting that it should be SO. urged
him to acquieSe in the ora ~ of his
pIiysiciasn without delay. n was then
that Father Dahme determined upon
his course.
It was hard for him to bring himself
whose loyal shepard he has been for
more than twelve years and the first
announcement of his intention to leave
brought many expressions of sincerest
sorrow from the members of his parish
although none would have him stay in
view of the condition of his health.
Yesterday at all of the masses in
his church he made the official an
nouncement of his going away, and
there were few dry eyes among the
congregation at the conclusion of his
remarks.
The people Of ST. Joseph's have
learned to love their pastor whose tact
and executive ability combined with a
fine exernpIification of his priestly du-
ties have served to endear him to them
in a measure that will make it diff |
cult for him to be replaced.
Since taking up his work here as pas |
tor Of ST. Joseph's, Father Dahme |
has been indefatigabIe in his laibors
for the welfare of the souls commit
ted to his keeping. Through & ms per
the fold many who had temporarily |
strayed and his capacity as an adj
is shown in the material
well being of the parish property.
When Father Dahme took hold II
years ago the little church in Madison |
avenue was about all that the parish |
siderable debt which he set about to
remove. Having accomplished this he |
purchased land and began the erection
of a school and convent which he not |
only completed in remarkably short |
order but managed to have both build |
ings free from debt shortly after their |
dedication to the work for which they |
were erected.
1t is a source of great satisfaction
to him to know ere he leaves for an |
indefinite stay that whoever takes up
the reins as his successor will find |
easy task compared
with what he assumed when he first
began his work here.
The gratifying condition in which /
the parish finds itself is due aim oSt en- |
tireIy to the fact that he kept the |
spiritual life of his parish at high |
suited in rekindling the faith in
many places
Father Dahme in point of service
was the oldest Roman Catholic pas
tor in this city, Father NihilI alone
surprising him in that respect He
is a gentleman of fine birth and ed
pulpit orators in the German tongue.
It is the devout wish of his little
flock as indeed it is of the Cath hOlics
of other parishes of this city that his
stay abroad will restore him to the
vigorous health he enjoyed heretofore.
During his 1s years in the priesthood
he has known but one vacation and
then he was away from his duties on
y six weeks.
His physicians say that with long
and complete rest Father Dahme has
an excellent chance to recover but
they Insist that his nervous system
has received such a shock from too
close attention to his pastoral duties
that it is only in this way that his
recovery may be brought about.
Father Dahme distinguished him
self at the fire which several years
ago destroyed the shirt shop on Gold
IN Hill. His bravery at that time
will long be remembered by those who
we're present when the flames burst
,orth threatening the lives of many
employees Father Dahme
,ollowing his custom, had responded
o the alarm of fire. His modesty
and quiet herOism was proved by that
Ine adventure when he repeatedly
'isked his life to save those of others
Father Dahme is a native of Emme-
'ich, Rhine-Province, Germany, where
lie was born in 1857 Most of his
Jouth Was spent at Aachen, Aix-Ia
Chapel1e, where he completed his col
ege studies. Then he studied at the
of EichStaedt and LoIrain.
He was ordained to the Catholic priest
lood by the late Bishop Tierney, Jan.
70, 1895, and acted as an assistant
priest at ST. Joseph's Cathedral, Hart
ord. Thence he was assigned to
Pit T4ar11> later to Waterbury. and in !