The Donaldsonville chief., 1919-05-31


undertaking is obviously difficult to
say the least. And today, after
decade of glorious achievement one
is easily persuaded and convinced
that deep and lasting gratitude IS due
to all those who made possible the
things that were then accomplished,
and pleasant for those who IN years
to come will take up and carry on
this great work of Holy Church.
On May the 4th, 1909, the first
services were held in the new church
lin the presence of the Rt. Rev.
Bishop, the local clergy and many of
the faithful from the entire city.
Rev. E. +. Park offered the first mass,
|assisted} by Rev. James MacRoberts,
C.. NJ, and Rev. Patrick J. O'Beirne.
Father MacRoberts preached the
|opening sermon. 1t was happy oc-
|casion for all concerned, and from
the very beginning the. church launch
led out into the great work that is
before every church that has Christ
the Lord for her founder. Going
therefore, teach.all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Ghost"
faction to be able to state that in the
last ten years st. Mary has receiv-
ed over four hundred converts into
her portals. A marked spiritual
growth has been characteristic of St.
Mary from the day of her establish
ment FasSer- Park has had the rare
faculty Of Bringing large numbers in
| to the church Of Christ the Saviour
! of men. All this meant time and
patience, and work as well, but the
reward ef seeing misguided souls safe
| on the path Of salvation, was well
worth the while. Many people too
have settled in the. parish, and these
with our hundreds Of converts all go
to make up and maintain a well regu-
lated parish.
| A few years after the parish was
Established there was a demand for
more ground, On which to build a new
and more suitable rectory. In time
this was built and finished in each de-
! tail, so that now we have a rectory
Eenough to accommodate guests and
Visiting clergy.
And how incomplete this little
sketch were it to fail to mention the
iladies Of the Altar Society, giving
generously of their time and means
to fitti,,gly decorate and adorn the.
Ialtar OF Divine worship. No servants
were trusted there with the work
that they themselves with loving
hands performed, deszning it an
honor and privilege to decorate and
jbeautify the Sanctuary Of the Living
IGod. With constant care and atten-
1 tion they have attended to this work
a|aIloted them. The parish is indeed
lproud Of eir work ia the past and
d second taei sry effort il TIE
i to carry OH ce4op Tafs
Iparish, ever ready to attend The sick
and to lend a helping hand where
fdeeds meant more than words. Much
s|of the work that they have done has
been identical with tkat Of the Ladies
|of Charity of ST. Vincent De Paul. #
Our organist and choir are justly
entitled to honorable mention IN
4 these few lines that are partial re-
view of the parish history. They too
! have contributed their share towards
the general success tl:at has ever at
, tended st. Mary. And invaluable
service have they rendered to the
!, good of religion and religious service
during the last ten years. No matter
) what the occasion they were ready
, to meet it in a very creditablc way,
land we feel indebted to them in
dividually for their services SO gen