The Monett times., 1922-06-23
.FATdER EUGENE T. o'NEIL
HELD MASS IN ST. PATRICK'S
From De Tri-county Press.

FROM the Ill-CounIy Press.
The Reverend Eugene I. O'Neil,
who was ordained to the Holy Priest
hood by the Right Reverend Thomas
F. Lillis, d. D., last Saturday in the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Son
ception in Kansas City, held his first
mass at st. Patrick's church Tuesday,
June 13, and was guest of honor at
dinner given in the w. o. w. hail,
which was attended by several hum
dred people, including church officials
and friends from over five counties OF
Southwest Missouri.
Rev. Father O'Neil is a native of
Lawrence county, having been born
and reared on a farm near Peirce City
His parents, David and Hannah O'Neil
deceased, were among the first set
tiers of the county. He has four
brothers, John, David, Pete and Will
and four sisters, Mesdames John Mil
Ter, F. F. Miller, Joe McAvoy and Ed
German, who live in this immediate
section.
St. Patrick's church was filled to
/ full capacity at the mass Tuesday
morning which began at 10 O'Clock
and continued until IL. The music
was furnished by large choir and
the church was beautifully decorated
with flowers.
Father T. ID. Kelley, pastor OF the
Peirce City church, was arch priest OF
the mass; Father B. Il. McNamee OF
Monett, deacon Of the mass; Father
/ Thomas Brady of Springfield, sub
deacon; Mrs. James McNamee, thuri-
fer of the mass; Rev. Martin J. o.
Malley of KendricH Seminary, Web
ster Groves, Mo-, was preacher of the
mass, delivering the sermon; Father
j. j. McCoffrey of Kansas City was
master of ceremony of the mass and
Rev. Mr.. G. R. Mullen and Rev. P. l.
Conrad, both of Kansas City, were
acolytes of the mass.
The following formed the attending
clergy:
Revs. w. F. Roels Of Sarcoxie
Prairie, P. j. O'Donohue of Neosho
Herman Mayer of Blackwater, Mo.
Father Bitter of Joplin, Fir. Robert Of
Verona, FIR. Ed Cummins of Liberty
Mo-, FIR. Herzog of Upton, Fir. Hage
dorm of Boonville, FIR. Julian Moczy
dlowski of Bricefield; Rev. B. J. Hale
of Kansas City and Chas. Maxwell ol
Bayard, Iowa. Six sisters from st
Joseph church at Monett were alsc
there.
FIR. O'Malley's sermon will long b'
remembered by those who heard him
A past master in the ait of Englisl
language, deep and scientifi,
student, wonderful personality, HI
charmed and electrified his hearers a
he marshaled his phrases into mas
terpiece of oratory.
Solemn high mass was followed b,
solemn benediction. While they wer
vesting for benediction, Rev. Chas
Maxwell sang "Ava Maria" Immedi
ately after benediction FIR. O'Nei
gave his blessing to all and souveni
of the occasion.
The many friends that came to cele
brate this occasion gave evidence O.
the high esteem in which FIR. O'Neil i
held. 1t was a gala day for Peirc'
City, the beautiful city Of the Ozark
and the city gave proof that she wa
proud of her son. People of all walk
of life held out glad hand to Fir. o.
Neil to congratulate him and to tel
him they were proud of him and wish
ed him many years of success. Tele
grams of congratulation were receiv
ed from all parts Of the state.
| FIR. O'Neil received his early edu
cation in the rural school and late
attended the city school. He begal
his twelve-year course in preparation
for the priesthood at Conception, Mo
By means of close application h
made six years in four, then he wen
to st. Minerad, Indiana, for hi
studies in philosophy and sciences
thence to Kendrich Seminary to pur
sue his theological studies. Here h
had the master minds of the countr.
for professors.