The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-07-14

cellent rendition of the musical
program, and the members of the
parish on their loyal support of The
Catholic Bulletin as evidenced by the
fact that every family in the parish
is a subscriber to the paper.
Mgr. Sievin's Career.
Right Reverend Mgr. Slevin is a
native of County Longford, Ireland,
where he was born on March 4, 1854.
His classical education was received
at st. Mary's Academy in his native
town, after which he entered All Hal
lows College, Dublin, where he pur-
sued his studies for the priesthood.
He was ordained on June "a, 1878,
for the Diocese of st. Paul, MINI. The
following September he arrived in ST..
Paul and was appointed pastor of
Shakopee and attached missions, of.
which he retained charge until May,
1880, when he assumed the pastoratei
of st. Patrick's Church, Shieldsville,
and outlying missions. For twenty
years he labored indefatigably for the
spiritual and material upbuilding of
his new parish. When he took charge
he found the old wooden church un-
suited to the needs of the congrega-
tion and at once undertook the task
of erecting a more commodiOus
church. 1t was decided to build
stone structure and, Notwithstanding
the fact that the materials had to be
hauled from Faribault, ten miles dis
tant, the work was undertaken with
great energy by pastor and people.
The cornerstone was laid in the fall
CT 1880, and year later the new
edifice was opened for divine worship.
1t was one of the best churches in
the Diocese and would do credit to
any parish. When it was dedicated,
pastor and people rejoiced and for
about six years they had the consola-
ton of worshipping before it's altar.
Then terrible calamity befell the
parish. During a thunder storm in
the month of April, 1887, the church
was struck by lightning and in a few
hours all that remained of it was a
mass of ruins and bleak and blackened
walls. Practically nothing was saved
except the Blessed Sacrament. When
the people recovered from the first
shock of the serious loss they had sus-
to replace the structure and, under
the guidance of Father Sleyin they
set to work to rebuild. Stones
from the same quarry were used in
the construction and in a short time
the new church rose from it's founda-
NOUS proportion. So we'll was the
work done that today St. Patrick's
Church ranks among the best in the
Diocese monument to Father Slew
in and the devoted people of Shields
VILE AS soon as the church was COM
pleted a commodious parochial resi-
dence of brick was built to replace
the frame house which had long serv-
ed the needs of the parish.
Appointed to FaribauIt.
In May, 1900, the people of Shields
vile babe farewell to Father Slevin
who had been appointed pastor of the
Immaculate Conception Church in
Faribault. Not without regret did he
leave the parish in which he had
| labored for a score of years. But the
call of duty was imperative and he
obeyed. In the spring following his
arrival in Faribault, fire destroyed the
church and once more he was called
upon to build. How well he succeed
ed the present beautiful Church of the
immaculate Conception attests. 1t
ranks among the finest in the North
west. It is a gray stone structure
| browning one of the finest sites in
Faribault. Two years ago it was ar
tistically decorated and furnishings
and vestments are in keeping with the
richness of the interior.
In recognition of his work, Father
| Slevin was named Irremovable Rector
of the parish in 1903, and his appoint
| ment as a member of the Pontifical
| Household is fitting recognition for
almost two score years of priestly la
Dor. The purple robes of Domestic
Prelate were never conferred upon a
more worthy priest, as the Most Rev
erend Archbishop himself publicly tes-
titled on the solemn occasion of the
linvestiture. He is the dean of the
clergy of the diocese in length of con
tinuous service and his brother
priests in all parts of the State and