Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-07-19
FATHER FELTEN
Silver Jubilee of Well Knowa
and Beloved Louisville
Priest.
Festivities VIII Begin Tomorrow and
Continue Over Three
Days.
viii Be a Solemn. Interesting and
Largely Attended Religious
Occasion.
ACTIVE AND EARNEST WORKER.

The celebration OF the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the ordination of
Rev. Father Francis Felten to the
holy priesthood will be one of the
most solemn, interesting and largely
attended religious occasions of the
Catholic diocese of Louisville Not
only is Father Felten we'll known in
Catholic ministerial circles, but he
Is also the treasured friend of the
most prominent citizens of Louis.
vile. AT present the jubilarian is
, the beloved pastor of st. Martins
church on Shelby and Gray streets.
which through his executive ability
has become one of the most progress
siye parishes of the city.
Rev. Francis Felten was born at
Osnabruck,, Hanover, Germany, on
March 6, 1872. After completing his
college education there in 1888 he
made his study of philosophy at the
University of Vienna, Austria, and
later studied theology at Eichstadt,
Bavaria. His last year in the
seminary was spent at Chur, Switzer-
land. On July 22, 1894, with Papal
dispensation, he was ordained to the
holy priesthood at the age of twenty
two.
How the'young neophite happened
to come to America will be found
in the following narrative: He was
going through some old papers of
his deceased mother when he came
across the address of an aunt re-
siding in Louisville. He wrote to
her telling her that he was about to
be ordained to the priesthood She
in her joy at the news told the Late
Rev. Francis Zabler, pastor of St.
Martins church. He in turn spoke
to Bishop McCloskey, who availed
himself of the opportunity of having
the young neophite ordained for his
diocese. Father Felten arrived in
Louisville on October s. 1894, and
his first mass In America was
celebrated in the church of which
he is now pastor. Father Felten was
first appointed chaplain of ST. Jo-
seph's Orphanage, later becoming
pastor of st. Johns church near
| Paducah From there he came TO
Louisville and presided at the
Church of the Blessed Sacrament on
Washington street during the vaca-
ton of its pastor.
His permanent work really began
with his accepting the appointment
as pastor of st. Augustine's colored
church at Fourteenth and Broadway.
His work at this church, of which he
was pastor for eighteen years, stands
out like an open book and needs no
comment further than to say: HE
who runs may read" One event We
might mention in connection with
his work at st. Augustine's was the
disposal of the property at Four
| teenth and Broadway and the
purchase of property and the cree
| ton of a new church and rectory at
Thirteenth and Broadway. accom-
plished by his judgment and fore
sight
On May 13, 1917, Father Felten
was appointed to succeed the late
Rev. Louis c. Ollie as pastor of st.
Martins church With his usual
energy he went to work, and the
evidences of his short pastorate can
best be told by looking over the
| field of his work The parish has
been fully recognized. the buildings
have been rejuvenated and the sur
roundings have taken on a park-like
appearance, which speak more
eloquently than words could express.
AS an acknowledgment OF his
earnest labors. the following jubilee
programme has been briefly out
/ lined:
Sunday, evening, O'Clock, the
celebration will be for the parish at
large. consisting of musical numbers
by the church choir and orchestra,
address by a leading clergyman,
presentation of the jubilarian with
purse and gifts from the various
church organizations.
Monday morning at 8 o'clock
solemn high mass for children of the
parish followed by their celebration.
Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock the
jubilarian's solemn high mass, at
tended by about seventy-five visiting
priests, followed by a banquet at
l p. m. At 8 o'clock in the evening
festivities for the choir and the
jubilarian committees.