Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-27
SHEPHERD OF A MILLION SOULS,
LAYS DOWN LIFE RICH IN WORKS

but lie had not then attained the canon.
ical age and consequently had to wait
five months for ordination Tie was
ordained on November Il, 1868. at tho
age Of twenty-five and ore-half years.
by Bishop Wood, in the Cathedral Of
saints Peter and Paul, which had been
dedicated just year before.
The tall young pricst--he had al
ready reached his great height Of siv
feet four inches. with his slenderness
accentuating that height--was assigned
to St Paul's Church. Ninth and Chris
ton streets. for his first work, as as
sistant tr' Father Sheridan. SO earnestly
did he enter into his labors that, al
ready overtaxsd by his studies at the
seminary. his health gave way in six
months and he was forced 70 asl, to bc
sent 70 some country parish lie waa
accordingly appointed TO the small mis-
sion Of Susquehanna Depct, Susque-
hanna County, as assistant TO the ven
cradle Father John Vincent O'Eeilly.
Old Father O'Reilly and young Father
Prendergas' shared lodgings with n
family which lived in y small house
The two priests had two small bedrooms
and one small sitting room between
them. Bishop Wood, visiting them on
one occasion. remarked that Young
him Of The one OF which II was said
that II It's occupant wanted 70 wash his
| face he would have TO put his head out
Of the window.
Fifty years later the occupant of that
! little room. having become Archbishop.
was administrator Of church properties
whose aggregate value amounted 20 per-
| haps a quarter Of a billion dollars
After a year or so in Susquehanna
Depot Father Prendergast was made
pastor of st. Marks Church. Bristol,
Pa. whose territory then comprised the
present parishes OF Newtown. Norris
vile. Yardley and Cornwells. lie found
Il necessary TO raise funds with which
TO build n new church. the old one hav-
ing been destroyed by fire shortly be-
fore his appointment. lie remained as
pastor at Bristol for four years and
was then made pastor Of the Church cf
the Immaculate Conception, Allen.
town, Pa
Ills brief pastorate there concluded
his eight years Of ministry outside OF
Philadelphia. From 1874 until the time
of his death he was to remain in this
city. In February of that year. on the
founder Of St aIalachy's Church
Eleventh and Master streets. Father
Prendergast was recalled, from Allen
town by Bishop Wood and appointed tC
the vacant rectorship He remained IL
charge Of that church for thirty-seVer
years.
-Four years after he became the pastor
he caused St Malachy's to be remcdelei
and completely renovated. In 1882 hi,
parishioners erected the present pastora
residence. on November 4, 1885, II,
was appointed permanent rector of st
Malachy's. His parish celebrated hi
silver jubilee November II. 1890. II
1891 Father Prendergast planned tn,
erection Of q parish school for st. Nal
achy's. purchased several small houses
Oh warnock street and had the presen
, parochal school erected.
BY 1896 the energetic priests abili
: ties had brought him so prominently int,
the wider life of the diocese that he wa
made vicar general OF the \diocese o
Pennsylvania.
: ELEVATED TO EPISCoPACY
, In that same year. which was that o
, Archbishop Ryan's silver jubilee. tn
, newly appointed Vicar general wa
, named Auxiliary Bishop Of Philadel
, phia. with the title OF Bishop OF Scillio
' The appointment came on December ;
= 1895, and he was consecrated as bisho
on February 2l, 1897. Archbishop ByA
acted as consscrator. The coconse
crstorS were bishop fgnatius r. aorrt
mann. o. Cleveland. who had been naz
IA VI. u i Ar. N 4 ~ a AZ Az