The Washington herald., 1920-09-25
Plans Completed and Finances Nou Assured
For Building Beautiful Sacred Heart Ednice
Construction Operations on
New Church Will Begin
at Sixteenth Street and
Park Road Within Next
Few Weeks.

Sacred Teart Parish, which
startled Washington several months
ago with the spectacular drive for
5000 which ended in the realiza-
rion of s23l,1s0, more than twice
the amount asked, was founded ~
1898.
Like the century whose birth 1t
so closely preceded it has always
had a progressive body of parish
toner's and an enviable growth. de-
spite its modest beginnings, which
we're little indicative of its subsS-
quent career of prosperity.
Its first pastor was the much be-
loved Rev Joseph F. MCGEE, who
strove hard under many difficulties
to build up a creditable sized parish
in what twenty years ago was far
removed from being the we'll settled
community which now clusters
about the church, Fourteenth street
and Park road.
Labors Rewarded.
Father McGee's labors were re-
wsrded by the realization that Sa-
cred Heart was well on the way to-
ward phenomenal growth when
death stilled the heart and hand that
had hoped for so much from the
parish whose members had grown
to look upon him with love and ven
Grafton.
Father MCGEE was succeeded by
the present pastor, the Rev. p. {.
Gavsn, under whose able leadership
the parish has rapidly attained the
rank of one of the first in the city.
In the six years of his pastorate the
parish has made rapid strides until
,A II efay kfNrfF a-n nf~nF ana nj
and promise it occupies an enyiable
place in the community.
Father Gavsn may well be said to
enjoy in reality the prosperity
which his predecessor saw only in
hope.
Phenomenal Growth.
So great has been the growth of
the parish that the present church is
far too small for the large and rap
idly expanding congregation and
plans have been completed for a
larger and finer edifice.
The new structure will not rise,
however. on the same site as the
old. because of the Limitations of the
present site. Property has been
purchased at sixteenth. street and
Park road where building operations
will gin within a few weeks, and
it is expected that the new building
will rank high among the other
notable examples of ecclesia stical
architecture which sdorn the Capt.
tai.
Funds for the new building were
raised in a whirlwind ten-day. drive
conducted by the parish a few
months ago. The goal was set at
what was considered by many an al
most unattsinsble sum, and yet due
to the remarkable cooperation of
members of the congregation and to
the keen desire for a church worthy
of the traditions of the parish, more
than twice the sum set was col
lected.
Campaign Successful.
At the end of ten days the enthu-
siastic work and indefatigable zeal
of the competing teams, which were
a feature OF the campaign, assisted
by the unhagging support of every
member of the parish. eliminated in
the receipt of s231.lSO. a sum amply
sufficient to begin work on the new
church.
Father GsYan has had a varied
career and is one of the few Wash
ington priests who has the distinc-
Eternal City. Receiving his early
education at St Charles College,
then situated near Ellicott City, Ma
rylsnd. he journeyed to Rome for
his philosophical and theological
studies.
Ordained in 1897.
There, in the city which may we'll
be called the earthly fountafn-hesd
OF his faith, he was ordained to the
holy priesthood March 7. 1897.
His hrst appointment to duty was
as secretary to Most Reverend
Archbishop Kesne. formerly rector
OF the Catholic University of Amer
lea, who was at that time resi-
dent in Rome.
After two years service in Rome.
Father Gavan returned to the
Cnitea states. His first appoint
ment IN the land of his birth was
at Bdtimore, where he was made