The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-11-18
PUBLIC RECEPTION
TO BE HELD TONIGHT
Rt. Rev. ]. ]. Rice, Bishop
OF the Diocese of Bur-
lington, Celebrated Mass
To-day, Assisted by
Many Clergymen from
All Parts of the State.

hev. f. IA. Mckenna, beloved pastor
Of st. Monica's Roman Catholic church
in Barre and one of the leading clergy.
men Of the diocese of Burlington, was
given a signal honor to-day al the
hands of his parishioners and towns
people, together with Rt. Rev. j. j.
Rice, bishop of the diocese of Burling
ton, and large number of clergvmeu
and church men from all parts of Yer.
mont, IN recognition of his quarter cen.
tury OF service with the Barre church
st. Monica's church was thronged with
people during the services in eommem-
grafton of the event and hundreds OF
other people extended their fluctuations
to the pastor
The ceremonies of the day were
opened with the celebration of pontifi.
cal high mass by Bishop Rice, this be.
ing the first time that such a service
has taken place in the local church and
one of the few times in Vermont out.
side OF the cathedral in Burlington.
The closing event of the day will be
public reception in Rowland hall to.
night, beginning at o'clock, when il
IS expected that a large number of
townspeople and others will seize the
opportunity to express to Father Me.
kenna their congratulations over his
splendid service in Barre and their best
wishes for many more years of activity
in the community.
While many friends could not be
present to attend the functions in hon
or Of Father McKenna, they took op.
portunity to express their congratula-
tion through the medium of flowers:
and handsome tokens in that form
poured in upon the revered churehman
from far distant places as well as from
nearer home From the scene of his
third pastorate, Norwich, Conn. came
such a token; also from Meriden, Conn,
Hartford, Conn, Boston, Baltimore,
Md, and Washington, d. c., Burlington
and other places in Vermont, with
large number contributed by Barre peo-
pie
The Impressive Service at Church.
The third church bell OF the morning
summoned the bishop from the rectory
and there he was met by a procession
of altar boys and clergymen arrayed in
the customary garments OF the church.
Through the center aisle of the church
the procession led by Louis O'Leary as
cross bearer, proceeded to the altar,
which was beautifully decorated with
flowers Of many varieties and lighted +,
with candles The Rt Rev. j. j Rice.
Z. d., bishop of Burlington, with miter
and staff, was the last to ascend the
altar, with Rev. r NJ. McKenna, the
honored guest
Immediately began the celebration Of
the pontiical solemn high mass by the
bishop On the altar to assist him
were High Priest Rev Joseph Turcot.
Deacon Rev Eugene +. Cray, Sub-dea-
con Rev j. f. Oaeeuchure, Master Of
Ceremonies Rev John Kennedy, AS
sistant Master Of Ceremonies Rev.
Francis Welch, as well as 20 altar boys.
five Of whom came from the cathedral
in Burlington TO serve upon the right
reverend bishop.
The solemnty of the occasion was
in impressiveness by the
exquisite music Of the senior choir, di-
rected by Mrs Charles Smith. For
weeks these choristers, under the able
direction of Mrs Smith, have prepared
for this occasion to be so memorable,
and the fruit Of their toll highly repaid
them for their efforts. The Latin mass
as sung ncuded-a short solo in the
Gloria" by Mrs. Charles Smith Miss
Louise Canton, soprano, sang the Gre
do. As on special occasion, Mrs
Smith rendered at the offertory the
soprano SOLO ave Maria" by Cheru-
bini, that was highly commendable
Then, at the proper time, Charles Fren-
ier, bass, and James Bennett, tenor,
Joined III duet. singing the "Benedic-
tus" Miss Catherine Fitzgerald. with
the supplemented soprano part by Mrs
Smith, completed the mass music with
a contralto solo, 'Agnus Del
As the ceremonies of the mass were
completed, Rt Rev J. J. Rice seated
himself at the erected throne on the
left side of the altar Rev FIR Mcken-
ma, the honored clergyman, then APP
the altar rail manfesting to
.he people he was about to speak.
Fir. McKenna Moved By Emotion.
The voice that is usually firm and
decisive quivered with emotion as he
began the short address to his parish
oners and it was plain to be seen that
The man who has toiled in Barre mces-
sanity for 70 years was overwhelmed
with emotion at the unusual festivities
and honor bestowed upon him by the
bishop. Il have a very pleasant duty
10 perform here to-day he began. "and
| will try and do it in a few words.
First Of all, want to thank the right