The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-06

Mary's hall, he found the auditorium
filled with his parishioners, many OF
whom were of the old St Mary'sx par
iSh before its division, and others OF
his admirers who took advantage OF
the opportunity to do him honor.
Father Murphy was seated on the
stage beneath a banner bearing the
inscription. Greeting to our Pastor
and the dates 1877-1902 and 1S43-1913
Applause greeted the arrival of the
| priest, whose Enthusiastically benig
nant smile was even kind1ier than ever
as he took his place on the stage ano
| surveyed the smiling faces of his par
| ishioners.
Seated with Father Murphy were
Fathers Iulcahy and Seiferman and
| Trustees William Hickey and Michael
| Murphy The stage was tasteful1y
a bouquet of carnations 35 in num-
Der symboIized the years of his ser
vice in the priesthood.
st. Mary's full choir with John
Wilbur Dial at the piano sang, The
March of the Nations" Then Father
MuIcahy delivered the opening speech.
1t was a, brief resume of the life and
Iabors of Father Murphy, a high tri-
butte to his piety,- zeal, and sterling
qualities of manhood. Father Null
cahy recalled the hardships of the
early career of the priest, in the lone
ly mission posts of rural Connecticut,
and told of his minfstrations to the
wants, spiritual and temporal alike,
of his flocks. He paid esp pecial tri-
ability to handle the finances of the
church to make the burden for
the people comparatively light. Not
once had Father Murphy been absent
on a Sunday during the 10 years OF
his pastorate at ST. Marys, said
Father Murphy.
At the risk of mourning the dis
pleasure of his pastor, Father Null
cahy said he would disclose some sec
retS and he told of many occasions
when Father Murphy arose from a
nj in n a
| when he had been bedridden, several
days before Sunday.
He recalled a story that he had
heard of Father Murphy's zeal, dur
ing the early days. Father Murphy
had been taken i'll, and his brother,
the late Doctor Murphy, was attend
gagement to call on him on Sunday.
having left him in bed the day be-
fore. On the following day the doc
| tor called and he found that the priest
missions
Father NIulcahy also spoke of the
| man. He said that he had been 1iv-
ing with Father Murphy for seven
years, and during that period Father
Murphy had ever been the consider
ate and induI gent pastor, the true
/ friend and counsellor. He said it
would be pleasure indeed to serve
II years under pastor so kind and
gracious as Father Murphy.
| Alderman John E. Lyddy then took
| the stage. After word of congratu-
lat1on to Father Murphy who greeted
| him as he stepped forward, Mr..
Lyddy speaking on behalf of the con-
gregation. very briefly felicitated the
pastor on having attained his 10th
year, the 35th year of his priesthood
| and the 10th year of his pastorate
IN congratulating Father Murphy, the
| congregation also congratulated them
selves on having such a man and such
| a priest at the head of the parish
Alderman Lyd6iy- in conclusion said
| that the parishioners were united in
the prayer that Father Murphy may
| be spared TO them for many years
! Then he rendered him a check
! Michael Mcnamara, president OF
| the Holy Name society of ST. Marys s
acting for the society presented P
! check as part of the purse for Father
Murphy He said:
! AT assembIage of this kind a
! flood Of memories comes to us. In
| looking back over the years we can
scarcely realize the wonderful growth
| of the Catholic church in Bridgeport.
| Commencing with old ST. James, at
| the corner of Arch and PeGuonnock
streets, and ST. Mary's. this parish,
| these were the only two churches we
! had for a number of years. How
| ever, when Bridgeport began to ex-
pand and grow the parishes multi
piled, until. with the work under con-
! temptation, we shall soon have twenty
| Catholic churches in the city of
| Bridgeport. This or something sim
| liar is the history of nearly every Sec
tion of the United States
''In own native town T<ind4-