The Irish standard., 1918-03-16
A LIFE WORK OF RICH FRUlTAGE
IN THE LORDS VINEYARD.

Fifty-three Years In the Priesthood
Twenty-Five Years Bishop and
Six Years Archbishop.
Prendergast, the Faithful Norman
Comes Of Family of Strong ReIig-
ious Predictions.
The Most Reverend Edmond F.
Prendergast, Archbishop of the Arch
diocese of Philadelphia, notice of
whose death on Tuesday, Feb. Goth,
was briefly mentioned in last weeks
issue of the Standard, has richly mer-
tied the reward Of salvation which is
now his, BY the glorious record of
his active life in the vineyard of the
Lord as may be seen from the brief
sketch of it we give below:
The Most Rev. Edmond Francis
Prendergast, ID. d. was born in Clon-
mel, County Tipperary, Ireland, on
May 5, 1S43
His Grace's branch of the Carew-
sons and daughters to the Church. One
of his brothers, the Rev. Peter j. Prem
dergast, d. d., became rector of the
Church Of the Epiphany, New York
city. Another brother, Father Francis
G. Prendergast, is pastor at Portlaw,
Waterford. Two Of his sisters entered
the religious life in Ireland; one of
these is the Reverend Mother Mary
Peter, of the Presentation Convent at
Lismore. His fathers brother, the
Rev. James Prendergast, died in the
ministry at the age of eighty-six, at
Tallow. Two uncles. his mothers
brothers, were the late Father Edmond
Carew of the Archdiocese of Casbel,
and the late Father Francis Carew.
pastor of St. Rose Of Lima's Church,
Carbonate, Pa.
In 1859 the future Archbishop at the
invitation of Father Francis Carew,
entered the Seminary at Eighteenth
and Race streets, Philadelphia He was
ordained to the priesthood at the age
of twenty-five and one-half years, on
November II, 1865, in the Cathedral
of SIS. Peter and Paul. by Bishop Wood
Father Prendergasts first mission
was at st. Paul's Church, Ninth and
Christian streets. There he had labored
only six months when, on account of
his failing health, he asked to be sent
to country parish, and was appointed
to the small mission of Susquehanna
Depot, Susquehanna county, as assist
ant to the venerable Father John Vim
cent O'Reilly. After some eighteen
months Father Prendergast was ap-
pointed pastor of St. Marks Church.
Bristol, then comprising the present
parishes of Newtown, Morrisville,
Yardley, Cornwells and Langhorne. A
short time before his appointment to
Bristol the church had been destroyed
by fire, and it devolved upon him to
rebuild it. For four years he remained
pastor at Bristol, and then was ap-
pointed pastor of the Immaculate Con-
ception Church, Allentown.
Thirty-seven Years at St. MaIachys
On the death of Father John Kelly,
pastor and founder of St. Malachy's
Church, Eleventh and Master streets,
in February, 1874, Bishop Wood ap-
l.
cant rectorship, where he labored for
thirty-seven years. In 1873 he had the
church remodeled and thoroughly reno
waited. The galleries, which formerly
extended to the sanctuary line, were
shortened and the ends curved. In
1882 he erected the present commod-
ious pastoral. residence. On November
4, 1886, he was appointed permanent
rector of ST. Malachy's. In 1891 he
purchased several small houses on
Warnoc]s street and had the present
school building erected. Five years
later he was made vicar general of the
diocese.
In the year of Archbishop Ryan's
episcopal silver jubilee his vicar gen
eral was named Auxiliary Bishop of
Philadelphia with the title of Bishop
of Scillo, December 3, 1896. His con-
secration as Bishop took place on Feb
ruary "a, 1897 Archbishop Ryan was
the consecrator and the late Bishop
Horstmann, of Cleveland, and Bishop
HOban, of Scranton, the co-consecra
tors. The sermon on that occasion was
delivered by the late Right Rev. Mon
signor James F. Loughlin, D. D., who,
speaking of the late Archbishop Ryan,
said that advancing age must render
daily more difficult the satisfactory
performance of his overwhelming cir
Gle of duties" and che has given new
evidence of his wisdom and apostolic
solicitude in the selection of an Aux
Hilary with whom he can share the
heavy burden of the episcopate,"