Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-09-12
Many Church Dignitaries and
About Eighty Priests Par
ticipate in Exercises.
Senator Jacob HOertz Presents
Check as Token From
Many Friends.
MANY ENJOY The RECEPTION

Fifty years a priest! That is the
proud and happy record of Rev.
Father William Gausepohl, pastor of
st. Mary Magdalen church, who this
week celebrated the fiftieth ami
versary Of his ordination. Father
Gausepohl was ordained by Bishop
Rosencranz, September 10, 1864, in
Cincinnati. After twenty-five years
labor in Cincinnati and Canada he
returned to Louisville, his native
city, serving first in the congregation
of st. Boniface. Fifteen years ago
he became pastor of st. Mary Mag
dalen church, where he has remained
since, this being his longest work.
Wednesday morning the venerable
jubilarian was the celebrant of a
high mass for the children, with
which the celebration began, and in
the evening parishioners and friends
numbering over 1000 assembled on
the illuminated church lawn and
presented Father Gausepohl with a
bouquet of golden rod that contained
a check for $1,000. The reception
was arranged by a committee COM
posed of every member of st. Mary
Magdalen church, with former SEN
atCA JoNOb AAOC-tH 90 Cudll llldllt
William T. Meehan Secretary and
the Rev. p. NJ. Monaghan Treasurer.
Father Monaghan and the Rev.
Father Holleran, tf Irvington. occu-
pied seats with Father Gausepohl on
the church steps, which served as a
rostrum. Lieut.. Gov. E. j. McDer-
mott was among those who con-
graduated the jubilarian. Father
Gausepohl was escorted to the
rostrum by Charles ]. Cruise, Jacob
Hoertz, Charles F.. Taylor and P. ].
Bowling. AS he arrived the orchestra
played the "Jolly General" march.
and prayer was said by Father
Monaghan.
Mr.. Cruise presented Father
Gausepohl to his parishioners,
friends and well wishers, and intro
duced Senator Hoertz, the Oldest
member of st. Mary Magdalen
church and lifelong friend of the
pastor Mr.. Hoertz made the pre-
sentation address. 1--WE have as
sembled to do honor to our worthy
PASTOR" Mr.. Hoertz said. Turning
to Father Gausepohl he continued:
I'VE present you with bouquet of
goldenrod, and in that bouquet wes
present you with treasure" 1t was
a basket bouquet tied with golden
ribbons bearing names of hundreds
of contributors. In the center was
an envelope containing a check for
$1,000.
Charles F. Taylor paid tribute
to Father Gausepohls life and
worth, and said:
All intelligent, conscientious
workers, however unselfish and
modest, like to see a visible sign of
their success. Every good man
loves his fellow men, and he
naturally wishes their respect and
is pleased by any evidence that they
love him. II is love that brightens
our pathway and that cheers us In
our sorrows. We should not wait
until our friend is dead to tell how
he held our admiration and affec-
tion. We have learned to love and
esteem our good pastor. and we want
to tell him of IL now when he is
celebrating so happily his golden
jubilee. Our lives have been made
brighter by his jealous, inspiring
piety, and have been made happier
by his friendship and by his sweet
smile. Father William Gausepohl
has lived more than three score
years and ten, the good old age
mentioned by the Psalmist, and he
has served fifty years in the holy
priesthood. II has been long. use
ful and successful life. God has
blessed his labors. For twenty-five
years he has toiled in the vineyard
of this diocese; for fifteen years he
has been the faithful shepherd of
his flock in this parish. While at
tending to our spiritual wants he
has also been thoughtful and dill
gent in his care of our temporal
affairs, and has made many improve
ments In the church and school and
pastoral residence. In the pulpit.
at the altar, at the bedside OF the
sick and dying, he has performed
his tasks with zeal. charity and love.
He has been always a studious
scholar and pleasing, persuasive
speaker. At times he has quoted
the MUSES. (which a priest is al
lowed TO dol and has expressed his
innermost thoughts and feelings In
beautiful verse. For these and other
reasons this good man has won our
admiration as a priest. and has won
our love as a friend. We therefore
heartily wish him many years of
usefulness and happiness In his
noble and holy calling. The ties
that bind a priest and HIS people
are tender, strong and holy. Though
they are as light as air, yet they are
as strong as steel. As long as we
live, Father William, we shall sus-
tain and love you. and we know that
you will always be a willing sharer
In our joys and sorrows. May God
crown your labors with an eternal
crown OF bliss and glory.
p. J. Bowling referred TO Father
Gausepohl as a pastor. priest,
scholar, poet and cultured Christian
gentleman He said the coneresa-