The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-08
Distinguished EcclesiaStics Coming To St. Patrick's To
 Participate In Dedication
Impressive Ceremonies Tomorrow Will Mark Completion Of Score Of Years Foil Of Indefatigable Pastor Handsome New Edifice Is Model
 Of Architectural And Dec
 corative Achievement

Tomorrow morning at St. Patrick's church, to take part in it's dedica ton,
 there will be gathered in the sanctuary perhaps the most notable assemblage
 of eccleslaStics ever recorded in the
 history of Bridgeport Besides the if
 ty priests of the diocese who have sig nided their acceptance of invitations
 extended there will also be present a number of church dignitaries from d1o- eeses outside of Connecticut
 The most eminent personage of the
 occasion will be the Most Reverend
 James J. Kea.ne, D. D., Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, who will preach the sermon during the solemn high mass which follows ceremony of dedication. This ceremony will be performed by the Right Reverend John J. Milan, D.
 D., Bishop of Hartford The dedica- ton of the church will begin at ten o'clock
 The music of the mass is by Fr Fur ner, O. s. B., and will be rendered by the church choir augm tented by local and out of town talent for both chorus and solo work. The soloists will be
 Miss Margaret Cummings, Mrs J. D. Casserly, MT. Joseph Weller and MT. William Chew. The ceIebrant of the
 mass will be Rev. John A. Doo1ey, and very appropriately so, as he is the old est in point of service of the young 444CA WAO 14GdES O00A Cd4100 IEOm LIl9 parish to the priesthood. As a boy Fr. Doo1ey daily assisted as an acolyte at the sacrifice which he will have the great honor of offering for the first time in the new church. Assisting the celebrant will be two other young rfck's altar, Rev. James T. Mcdonald and Rev. James P. Moran. The master of ceremonies will be the chancellor of the diocese, Rev John G Murray, and the censer bearer Will be Rev. William F. Laf1in, who was formerly a well known and jealous curate in the par ish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in this city
 The dedication of St. Patrick's church is the continuation of quarter of a century Of zeaIous, 1aborious, ofttines dfstasteful, yet joyous effort on the part of Rev. James B. Nfhill, the pas tor, heavily burdened so many years at this point in his career is unspeakabIy delighted, yet exceedingly humble witha1, at the part he has played in this episode of church history.
 It was on May q, 1889, that Err. Ni- hill was appointed pastor of the newly laid out parish which consisted of house thereon, a debt of nine thou sand dollars, and about one hundred families, and these not possessors of wealth A room in the Grand street school was secured temporarily, through the courtesy of the Board of Education, for divine services. This was used on Sundays for several months until the basement of the pres ent church was built and ready for use. In the meantime the site on Lind ley street was believed by some of the parishioners undesirable, hence the change of location to the present situ- ation In less than six months from the date of the organization of the par ish there was a fund of six thousand dollars on hand. It was planned early in the history of the parish to erect a building which could be used for the double purpose of church and school. However, the late Bishop McMahon thought it inadvisable to attempt g. school inasmuch as the small number of children in the parish could be read fly accommodate in other paroch1aI schools.
 In the summer of 1909 there had been accumulated and cancelled a parish debt of sixty thousand dollars together with a fund in the treasury amount ing to twenty thousand dollars. The pastor at this time found it to the financial advantage of the parish to secure building material. This he did and the work on the upper church was begun. This is considerably larger than called for by the original plans, and at the present rate Of growth of the parish will prove none too exten- sive.
 During most of the years since the formation of the parish there was any growth of note, however, the population of the northern section of the city began with the erection of St Vincent's hospital and has con- tinued steadily and during the past year or two is rapidly increasing in It is doubtful if the trolley cars even at this late date would be extended up North Main street were it not for the hospital, and without this there would bo no marked growth in population. The early building operations of the church were push ed along eagerly to the time for the laying of the corner stone which oc- cured on June 20, 1910. This cere- mony was performed likewise by the Rt. Rev. John J. Milan, Bishop of Hartford. The preacher of this day was Rev. John H. O'Rourke, $. J., who very strikingly portrayed the edi- fee of truth which is supported by the corner stone of Catholicity, and presented the Catholic plea for the ad justment of class hatred which rem edy he argued would quench the fire of hate in mems eyes, cause the dag ger unreddened with human blood to find the way back to it's sheath, and hands to be grasped in affection and love.
 Since the laying of the corner stone work has progressed favorab1y so that everything has been practically finish ed waiting for the interior furnish ings.
 Tbe AxtAriO~ of t1aAs AdificA is of blue