Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-13
HAS BEEN ACTIVE
IN THE MINISTRY
REV. FATHER JAMES FOLEY Gel.
ERRATES FORTlETH ANNi-
VERSARY As PRIEST.

S0uN
vERsARY As PRIEST.
NEVER MISSED MASS
Two Score Years Without omittins
Sunday Service; colonized Adair
and Guthrie Counties;
Here Since 1901.
The celebration Of high mass at the
Sacred Heart church Sunday was
made happy event owing to the OBJ
servance by the pastor, Rev. Father
James Foley, of the fortieth anniver-
sary of his first holy mass. Forty
beautiful red roses, red in honor of the
month dedicated by the church to the
Sacred Heart Of Jesus, were used IN
decorating the main altar and were
the gift of the children of the cate
chism classes. Red vestments were
worn at the mass The musical pro-
gram was specially prepared and an
Ave Maria sung by Mrs. Daniel Gal
lagher at the offertory was accom-
panied by violin, flute and organ. The
services were half an hour longer IN
duration than usual owing to the spe-
cial program and the sermon OF the
day which was augmented by re-
sumo of the past forty years by the
beloved pastor.
The church was well filed at both
masses but especially 80 at the last
or high mass. The story of the young
priest fresh from Ireland forty years
ago, who entered the then pioneer
state Of Iowa where few of his flock
we're scattered over several counties,
reads like page from history. Hard
ships were common but in the telling
OF the past Father Foley injected not
a little Of the humorous native to the
Celt and this In part smoothed over
the trying times and sacrifices made
or hardships endured in the early days
of the young priest.
! Reviews His Experiences.
Taking his hearers back in spirit
to the days when he entered Carlow
college in Ireland a student for the
priesthood and consecrated to the
American missions, the pastor told Of
q visit of the late Archbishop Hen.
messy, then bishop Of all of Iowa, to
Carlow college. His meeting with tho
pioneer bishop and his love for the
venerable man who long since passed
away at his home in Dubuque, the
desire expressed by most of the stu.
dents to come to the Iowa diocese and
and the final landing here two score
years ago were related Interestingly
by Father Foley. ..a.
Ordained on June 10, 1875, at Carlow
priest was as assistant to the late
Very Rev. Father BRAZIL, vicar gen.
eral at Des Moines. Here he remain
ed a year and was assigned to his first
pastorate which embraced Adair and
Guthrie counties and portion Of
Madison. Dallas, Audubon and Cass
counties Stuart was made the resi-
dence of the young priest and here
he made his home for twenty-four
years, coming to Ottumwa October 10,
1901.
Has Been Quite Active.
Some of the activities Of the pioneer
priest whose fresh appearance today
bellies his sixty-three years, forty OF
which have been in continuous service
in the Lords vineyard, follow:
Built the first church In Adair coun-
ty in 1879, purchased three GENE
teries, saw his first parish grow from
sixty-flve to 800 families and now sew
en- parishes are in . the jurisdiction
that formerly comprised the one.
81 Nd Cut ,ys4
ties with 200 Catholic families and
was accorded special privileges by
J. F. Royce and John
Givin Of the Rock Isleand road in an
early day because Of his activity in
building up. those counties which
were on that line Of railroad. 1t was
a common sight to have the fastest
trains on the road stop between sta
tons to permit the young priest to get
on or of to attend sick calls. This
courtesy was extended Father Foley
by the officials for his aid in develop
Ing Adair and Guthrie counties. Up
on his advice many Of his parishion-
ers left the cities and towns to take
up farms which in those days. sold as
low as $40 per acre and now are val
ued at $3.50, to 5000 per acre.
Preached 1000 Sermons.
During his forty years Of ministry
at the altar Father Foley has
preached some 1000 sermons and
held services in churches, schools.
homes, railroad section houses and in
the open He has baptized 1900 per
sons of all ages, many of whom were
and one Of them 80 years of
age, + =.
He married $50 couples and conduct
ed $50 funerals but stated that in all
Of the funerals he conducted not more
than dozen were of children.
During his long service he has new
Or missed celebrating mass on Sun
lay. even when on shipboard, when
visiting his native land. He has cele-
orated the sacrifice Of the altar. no
ess than $4,000 times. He heard 100,-
100 confessions and administered holy
100000 times. His minis
,ering at sick calls totals 1900.
Reduces Church Debt.
His work in Ottumwa speaks for It.