Evening star., 1914-07-25
CHURCH SOCIETY
HAS 2,150 MEN
Formed by Rev. Eugene Del.
Mcdonnell, S. J., by Per-
sonaI Appeals.
THIRD SUNDAY BRIGADE
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
Composed of Men in Ordinary Walks
of Life and Has Nation
Wide Reputation.

By his personal appeal to men in the
common walks of life. not al pastor but
as brother, man to man, one Washing
ton priest has banded together an army
of 2.150 men into unique church society.
The Third Sunday Brigade is like no
other church organization. It is COM
posed entirely of men who attend mass
In body and receive holy communion on
the third Sunday Of each month. On that
Sunday the main church is turned over
to their use exclusively during the early
service special mass in the basement
is provided for others who may desire to
attend an early mass. Several priests are
hearing confessions during the service,
SO that the men will not miss a chance
to receive the sacrament There is a
brief sermon on matters affecting the
daily life of the men They are well
coined at the church door by the pastor
on entering and he is there again to clasp
their hands and speak a pleasant word as
they are leaving.
This organization of men is connected
with st. Aloysius Church, North Capitol
in the city. founded in 1856. 1t Is a liv-
ing monument to the zeal and leadership
of Rev Eugene Del. Mcdonnell.
S. ]. 1t was started by him in 1905 with
until 1t now has 2, ,15O men enrolled and
has won nationwide reputation.
Join in Demonstrations.
Whenever there is Catholic demon
stration in Washington one Of the first
invitations issued is to the Third Sunday
Brigade It always takes a leading part
at the field mass on the Monument
grounds. and when Cardinal Gibbons Gel
ebrated his golden jubilee Father McDon-
nell took eighteen carloads Of men over
to participate in the celebration.
Pastors from all over the United
States who have heard of the Third Sum
day Brigade have come to Washington
expressly to see the men in one of their
| regular monthly church sessions. They
seeking in nearly every state in the
Union to copy the style of organization
that has been SO successful here.
On the Thursday before each third
Sunday Father Mcdonnell sends out
postal cards to every one of the men In
the brigade. reminding them of the serv-
ice Sunday. These are no stereotyped
cards, but personal messages to each
| man. asking him to meet Father McDon-
nell at church. They carry an individual
appea. to each man. And never once is
| communion mentioned. but the men know
| that is a duty expected regularly from
them, and they approach the sacrament
without reminder.
When they reach the church the pastor
| is at the door to greet each man as he
enters. Invariably the pastor breaches
| the sermon to them himself. Hymns are
printed on cards; and a1n the mighty male
| of the mass one of the men recites few
short prayers to which the others give
| the responses. Then the pastor is at the
| church door again to Did them God
| speed during the month. until they again
come to church in body.
Just Ordinary Men.
| Father Mcdonnell proudly boasts that
! his society, my men, he calls them.
are not prominent officials, but men from
the ordinary walks Of life, common every
| day men. the finest type of manhood in
the world
| The pastor is a born leader Of men,
| During his school days and college life
he was conspicuous for all that makes
| the man. loyal. fearless. honorable. He
was a leader in athletics as we'll as in
class work. Today he is considered one
of the best plain matter-of-fact Catholic
! Church speakers in the country.
! The Third Sunday Brigade is only one
! of his big achievements for ST Aloysius
parish. He built the new Gonzaga Col
| lese. which was dedicated last year. ne
has a thoroughly up-tO-date ciup ioi tLe
young men interested in athletics In
the near future he expects to open a new
school for girls. which will accommodate
more than CO.
Born in Baltimore.
Father Mcdonnell was born in Balti-
more October go 1864. and received his
early education at Loyola College. In Bal
timore. and finished at Georgetown Uni
versity. graduating from there In 1885.
He then went to the Pacific coast and
remained for a short time. Returning
he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Fred
erick. Md, in 1857. He afterward went
to Woodstock. Md. where he made his
philosophical studies and thence was sent
to Fordham College. n. Y, teaching
there for five years. He returned to
Woodstock and made his course Of theol-
ogy and was ordained. at the end OF
three years, in June 1902.
On leaving Woodstock Father McDon-
nell was sent again to Fordham. and
thence to his three years Of probation al