The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-06
Purse of 81 800 Presented by
Parishioners to Rev. John
E. Murphy
MANY PRIESTS ASSIST
AT SOLEMN HIGH MASS
Impressive Exercises at st.
Mary's Hall Come AS
Complete Surprise to
Priest, Whose 10th Birth
day, S5th Ordination An
niversary and 10th Ami
versary Of Pastorate Are
Fittingly Commemorated.

versary of Pastorate Are
Fittingly Commemorated.
A solemn high mass today, fol-
lowed by a reception to the clergy,
terminated the notable exercises ar
ranged by the parishoners and clergy
of St Mary's Roman Catholic church
to homer their pastor, Rev. John F.
Murphy, on the completion of -35 years
in the Catholic priesthood
Beginning with a reception in honor
of Father Murphy in ST. MaTy's hall
last evening" complete surprise to
the pastor-and the presentation of
purses from the parishioners and va
rious parish societies aggregating a
round 81 800, the exercises were closed
this afternoon with the reception and
dinner to the clergy at st. MaI'y's rec
tory.
With more than his usual vigor F'a-
ther Murphy to1ay entered the ed1f1ce
that S5 years ago this Christmas was
the scene of his first mass, and as
celebrant of the solemn high mass the
venerable priest chanted the solemn
tones OF the holy sacrifice IN strong
voice, while the congregation, almost
completely filing the church, devoutly
prayed that he might long be spared
to them.
The solemn high mass was sung at
O'Clock. Father Murphy was ce1e-
brant; Father T. P. Mulcahy, assist
ant pastor, was deacon, and Father
James H. Seiferman, curate, was sub
deacon. Rev. J. E. Joyce, D. D., for
merIy a curate under Father Murphy,
now stationed in Middletown, Conn.
was the master Of ceremonies, and
Father John H. Carroll, Of Wa1ling-
the priests of the city and vicinity
were within the altar rail.
The altar was handsomely. decorated
and the church. with its full lighting
light when the solemn strains Of the
opening of the mass pealed from the
organ at which John Wilbur Dial was
seated.
At the offertory the choir sang the
'tAdeste Ffde1es', and at the end of
mass the entire congregation took up
the strains of the hymn of thanks
giving, Holy God, We Praise Thy
name'A
Father Murphy, with Characteristic
thoughtfuIness of the little folks an
nounced at the end of mass that the
parochiaI school would be closed for
the day that the children might enter
into the joy of the feast so unexpect-
edly prepared for him
Father Carroll preached sermon
taken from St Paul's second EpistIe
to Timothy, as follows:
Thou, therefore, my son, be strong
in the grace which is in Christ Jesus;
and the things which thou hast heard
Of me by many witnesses, the same
commend to faithful men who shall
be fit to teach others also. Labor
as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
The priest said that Father Muir
ply had striven to live up to uhe ad-
vice given to Timothy. Father Muir
phys people better than anybody else
know what he has done He spoke
of how true Father Murphy has been
to the priestly character: always a
fx-T1 of T1rinSf a l.
ways approachable, always kindly, al
ways gentle, always obIiging. Only
God and His recording angel know the
limit of his charity. He has always
been a model for other priests in the
diocese. All join in congratuIating
Father Murphy on the completion of IS
years of prieStly life
In conclusion Father Carroll prayed
Gods blessing on Father Murphy.
He said: E'NIay He support you all the
day long until the shadows 1engthen
and fthe evening comes when the busy
world is hushed and the fever of life
is over and your work is done. Then
may God in His mercy give you a
safe lodging and holy rest and peace
at the last
Immediately following the mass Fa-
ther Murphy was escorted to the par
ishia1 residence.
Among the priests who attended the
dinner and extended congratulations tc
Father Murphy were Fathers McElroy,
Kennedy and Murphy of st. Angus
and Mooney of the Sacred Heart
church; Fathers Nihill, Picker and
Curran of ST. Patrick's church; Father
Huston of St. Charles church; Father
Kelly of ST. Peters; Father Dahme OF
St Joseph's; Father Belanger of St
Anthony's; Father Baran of the
Church of ST. Michael the Archangel
Father JankoIa of the Church of SITS
Cyril and Methodius; Fathers Komara
and Golob of the Church of ST. John
Nepomuk; Monsignor NeIIriher of the
Hungarian Catholic church in the West
End; Father Pankauskas of ST
Georges and Father Mclean of Mil
ford; Father O'Connor of Stratford
and Father Odeu of Fairfield Several
other priests in city and vicinity who
were unavoidabIy detained sent mes
sages of cOngratulation.
The exercises last evening, in ST
Mary's hall had been arranged
throughout without any intimatiOn tc
Father Murphy of the plans his par
ishioners had adopted to honor him
1t was shortly before s o'clock thai
William Hickey and Michael Murphy,
trustees of the church, called at the
rectory and invited Father Murphy to
accompany them to st. Mary's hall
The activities about the church had
excited his curiosity. but the other
priests had good naturedIy warned
him not to ask too many questions.
When he was escorted into 81