The St. Mary banner., 1921-10-29
Dual Ceremony Takes
Place In Franklin
Blessing of Beautiful New
Churc,l-Golden Jubilee
of st. Johns Academy.

His Lordship, Bishop Jean
mard, celebrates Solemn Ponti-
fical Mass, Very Rev. Father Cot
ter, S. NJ, Deacon of the Mass.
Very Rev. Father Wrenn, c. s.
Sp. Sub-Decan, Rev. Father Nc
Oscar, S. NJ. Deacon Of Honor,
Very Rev. Father Quinn, S. M.
Sub-Deacon of Honor, Very Rev.
Father Weldon, C.. M. Assistant
Priest, Very Rev. Father Niglle-
ro. Master of Ceremonies. Very
Rev. Thomas J. Larkin Of West
erly, R. l., delivers Eloquent
Sermon, Reviewing History OF
the Church in Franklin.
Ever memorable in the history OF
the Diocese of Lafayette was the Gel
ebration on Sunday last of the flf-
tieth anniversary of the coming
to the fair City Of Franklin OF the
great order of the Sisters Marlanltes
of Holy Cross. -,
Fifty years ago the Sisters opened
in Franklin, st. John S Academy, for
the education Of youth. Since then,
this time -honored institution has been
in charge of these gifted and cultur-
ed nuns, sending forth its pupils Tar
and wide and exerting an influence FOR
good that is felt in every section and
home in Louisiana.
In the rapid strides that have been
made in the educational world the
old Academy has kept pace with the
years, and ranks to-day with the very
best institutions Of the country.
The Golden Jubilee touched the
very heart of Franklin, entering as
it did, into the very lives of so many
of it's people. From all parts Of Lou
isiana the clergy joined with the
bishop in the celebration, and count
less numbers of the daughters Of st.
Mary's Parish who had been imbued
with the noblest and highest ideals
and many of those who had gone
forth to other cities gladly came to
nav tribute to their Alma Mater and
to recall their school days with tend
er memories for the association OF
the past.
For many weeks the st. Johns
Alumnae, the Sisters, students and
friends, had been preparing for this
Joyous occasion. The celebration was
worthy in every respect Of the great
event commemorated.
1t began on Saturday at Z A. M,
with Requiem High Mass for the
repose of the souls of the deceased
Sisters and Priests who had labored
SO zealously for Church and school
for the last fifty years among the
people of Franklin. At this Mass a
e AL~ 1,,% f,,l
Holy Communion and prayed most
devoutly for these devoted souls.
The Sunday celebrations were ush-
cred in with the blessing of the Con-
vent by the Bishop, after which a
procession formed by all the Catho-
lie organizations of the Parish fol-
lowed by the Bishop and Clergy.
Having arrived in the Church, a
Solemn Pontifcal High Mass was
celebrated by His Lordship, the Right
Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard, Bishop of
Lafayette. Deacons of the Mass
were: Very Rev. Father Cotter, s.
NJ, and Rev. Father Wren, C. S..
Sp. Deacons of Honor: Rev. Father
McOscar, S. M, and Very Father
Quinn, s. NJ, Assistant Priest; Very
Rev. Father Weldon, C. M, Master
of Ceremonies, Rev. Father Vigliero.
The Mass was followed by Solemn
Benedection of the Blessed Sacrament
given by the Right Rev. Abbot Paul,
o. S. B.
The musical talent of the town
was gathered into a great choir
which poured forth in voluminous and
heavenly strains-Leonards exquisite
Mass. The affairs were beautifully de-
corated with natural white lilies
which seemed to have bloomed for
the occasion; the magnificent Church
was thronged; in every heart, the
golden note Of the great work Of
Priests and Sisters in Franklin found
a resonant echo. The sermon was de-
livered by the Very Rev. ]. Larkin,
S. NJ, Of Westerly, r. I. Father
Larkin is one Of the most distinguish
ed and one of the best known mem
bers of the Marist Order. He paid
noble and eloquent tribute to the
memory of Rev. Father Trainor and
to the present Pastor, Rev. j. J.
Rousseau through whose untiring ef-
forts the Church has been artistically
completed.
In connection with the Jubilee Gel
ebration His Lordship blessed this
beautiful new edifice. =
The Convent halls and campus
which were most beautifully decorat-
ed with palms, ferns, rich yellow