Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-03-22
Hibernians Receive Holy Com
muniOn at st. Patrick's
Church.
Large Audience Greets Bishop
O'DOnaghue at Masonic
Theater.
GREAT DAY FOR The IRISH

Never before has Louisville had
more praiseworthy celebration IL
honor of st. Patrick, the glorious
Apostle of Ireland, than that OF last
Sunday. Imbued with the true faith
st. Patrick planted in the Emerald
Isle over fifteen centuries ago, his
children observed the day with the
religious and patriotic spirit charac'
teristic of the Irish people. The day
dawned crisp and clear, and early In
the morning the Hibernians and
Ladies' Auxiliary from all parts oi
the city gathered at st. Patrick
church to honor the memory Of their
illustrious patron and receive holy
communion. Rev. James p. Croninr
v G.. was the celebrant of the high
mass, and in his sermon he greeted
the large number present with a
'cead mile failthe." Father Cronin
commended the Ancient Order OF
Hibernians for the good works they
were engaged in and their loyalty
and devotion to their ecclesiastical
superiors. He also dwelt at some
length on the devotion of the Irish
people to the one true faith. Despite
the most cruel persecution they had
ever remained true, and OF all the
nations not one suffered as much OF
came out stronger for the Catholic
religion than did the Irish. Even in
this country the number Of those
who had lost the faith was IN
finitesimally small, while those who
had gone to heaven could be counted
only in millions.
The literary and musical celebra-
ticp of the day was held in the even
ing at the Masonic Theater under the
auspices of the County Board, A. o.
h. when a great and appreciative
audience greeted the Right Rev.
Denis o'Donaghue. Bishop of Louis
silIs-.- -Uery-7soy .Ia.nes p .Cronins ",
c.. the County Chaplain, and the
ladies aud gentlemen who con-
tributed so largely to the excellent
programme, in which were blended
patriotism. oratory, music and hu-
NOR. A remarkably enthusiastic
scene was presented and the vast
audience warmly applauded when the
curtain arose, showing the venerable
Bishop seated with Father Cronin on
his right and County President w. j.
Connolly on the left, while Judge
Matt O'Doherty, Col. p. H. Callahan,
State President P. ]. Welsh, William
NJ Higgins, Thomas keenan,, George
] Butler. Daniel Mccarthy, James
p. Barry, Thomas Walsh, John Doyle
and Martin Cusick occupied the
row of seats just behind them.
County President Connolly, who pre-
sided, expressed the great pleasure
it afforded him to Introduce one
known and loved by all and who had
so kindly consented to honor the oc-
easion with his presence. With feel-
ings of love he introduced Bishop
O'Donaghue, pledging him the loyal
and united support of both the
Ancient Order and the Ladies Aux
iliary. President Connolly touched
upon the Catholic growth in Louis
Vile and the increase OF fraternal
OF ders and complimented the COM
mittee upon the excellence OF the
programme.
When Bishop O'Donaghue arose
there were rounds of applause. Look
ing at the sea of faces before him be
said the audience was all right and
ne was glad to be with them and con-
tribute to the celebration. Nations
honor the memory of their great gen.
erals and benefactors, but no country
had one more deserving of honor
than St. Patrick, whose work was FOL
God and the people. The Bishop
then dwelt upon the advent OF st
Patrick. who found the Irish high
minded people, worshiping the SUI
and not stone gods. Few realize the
work that confronted the great
apostle, whose miracles can b'
authenticated. The work of the sain
was thorough. In a few years TN
whole island was converted TO Chfls
tianity and each succeeding genera
tion has remained firm in the faitl
of its fathers despite the persecution
of centuries. He verify believed tina
ST Patrick was still watching owe
ireland and her people, and II 1
therefore right and proper that the.
commemorate his memory.
Bishop O'Donaghue told OF tn
persecution OF the Irish during tn
time OF Cromwell. when the English
man declared he would drive then
so hell or Connaught." "The lrisl
went TO Connaught, but did Crom
well go to the other placer" aske'
the Bishop. He further told OF tn
days when priests we're forced q
celebrate mass in caves in their ei
forts 10 escape the persecutin
English soldiers. "It was the splri
OF st. Patrick and the memory OF III
name that served TO keep alive Tn
flame OF faith in the breasts OF Irish
men and, though driven from thei
country and forced TO seek refuge 4
other lands, their loyalty to hom
and religion never died. In Tai
mania, Australia, Egypt, Canada, IN
dia, Africa and our own Unite
5tates-ev everywhere there are lrlst
men-there you win find churche
dedicated TO 81. Patrick, the one ma
Who converted nation that ha