Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-06-21
Solemn High Anniversary Mass
at st. Paul's Next Tues
day.
Right Rev. Bishop and Many
Priests to Felicitate Popu-
lar Pastor.
fine CAREER IN THIS DIOCESE

The Rev. Thomas A. York. rector
of st. Paul's church, will celebrate
the twenty-fifth anniversary of his
ordination in the priesthood on
Tuesday next, June "a. On the oc-
casion of this silver jubilee the many
friends of Father York, both in the
clergy and among the laity, will take
occasion to felicitate him on his
great success in the holy ministry.
Father York is one of the most
popular pastors in Louisville, be-
loved by his congregation and re-
spected by everybody. His work
since he has been in holy orders has
been varied, and his life is an in
spiration to those who are engaged
in similar activities and benedic-
tion to all with whom he has come
in contact.
On the occasion of Father York's
silver jubilee the Right Reverend
Bishop of the diocese, DR.. Dennis
o'Donaghue, will grace the occasion
and show his appreciation by being
present at the solemn high mass,
which will begin at 10 o'clock, the
reverend jubiliarian being the cele-
hrant, assisted by the Rev. ]. J. Fitz-
gerald, as deacon, and the Rev.
Stephen Holleran, of Irvington, as
sub-deacon. The Very Rev. James p.
Cronin, Vicar General of the dio-
cese, and the Rev. Father Reverman
will be deacons of honor to the Right
Rev. Bishop O'Donaghue. The Rev.
Father George A. Schuhmann, Chan
cellor of the diocese, will be master
of ceremonies, and the Rev. Father
kalaher, of st. Columba's, assistant
master of ceremonies. The Rev.
Father Askermann will deliver the
jubilee sermon.
Following the solemn high mass
there will be a banquet at the rectory
OF st. Paul's. at which many of the
clergy of the city will be- present.
Varied and interesting as we'll ss
full of labor performed for Christ has
been the priestly career of the Rev.
Thomas A. York. Born in the Puri-
tan State of Massachusetts, he was
ordained by Archbishop, now Car
dinal, Gibbons at st. Mary's Semin-
aiy, Baltimore. His first mission in
Kentucky was here with Bishop
McCloskey, where he remained but
three months, when he was sent to
temporarily fill the vacancy in a
mission in the Jackson Purchase, be-
low Paducah, where there are now
five priests doing the work per-
formed by him alone.
Bishop McCloskey found it hard
to keep a priest at Hickman, KY,
and he told Father York to go there,
saying to him that il he would suc-'
coed he would be almost performing |
miracle. Father York did per-
form a miracle or series of miracles |
at Hickman. He found the church |
building tottering and falling into
ruin. He tore down the old church |
and built the handsome edifice which |
Is now an ornament to the town, its
tall steeple being visible to tourists |
who pass up and down the river for
a distance of twenty miles. Trav-
elers say 1t reminds them of the city
OF Queenstown, when entering Cork
harbor. Father York's work in Hick-
man is a monument to his untiring
energy and the devotion of the con-
over which the Rev.
Father Mensa now presides.
From Hickman Father York was
sent to Union City. Tenn, after hav-
ing received full faculties from the
Right Rev. Bishops McCloskey and
Rademacher, of Nashville. and the
Most Rev. DR.. Kenrick, of st. Louis.
tc go up and down the Mississippi
like Father Marquette and the Jesuit
Missionaries of old. Father York was
as a missionary priest and
during his ministry in this field in
three years brought over sixty into
the church OF Christ. So well liked
was Father York in Union City that
banker named Walker and other
citizens importuned him to remain
and they would build a home for
him. During his stay there he min
lstered unto the people of Mayfield,
Fulton, Paducah Junction, Union
City, Humboldt, Tenn; then to
Columbus. KY, across the river to
Belmont. Mo. He was permitted TO
'ay the first high mass at Union City,
Tenn. In the Court House.
Father York returned to the dio-
'ese OF Louisville on November 23,
1891, and was assigned TO his pres
mt pastorate by the Right Rev. q
Bishop McCloskey. He found the
'hurch In debt $4,000 and only
'ae-tbird of the edifice built. He
yot rid OF the old parlor organ and
,ut In a fine church organ. He COM
'leted the church and enlarged Il;
'uilt a fine new parochiai school.
which Is now attended by $50 pupils
5s also made many other improve
nents. All the time he has not for
;ctten the spiritual welfare OF his I
congregation. and especially the
IL
Father York Is everything that a Ii
'riest should be, and his associates
's we'll as his trustees and all who q
Inow him feel proud OF him and OF
Ifs work CortafulV the colobrafion Z