The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-09
FATHER KERRIGAN
 TALKS OF HIS NEW
 WORK AND CHARGE
New Pastor of St. Pauls Church Makes Strong Ap- peal for Cooperation
 and Better Feeling

for late mass when Rev. Father Will liam A. Kerrigan new pastor of the parish, sang late mass and gave his introductory address.
 Pleasure was expressed in his ap- pointment to Birmingham after years in educational work and co the par ishioners in working for the better ment of the city.
 Feeling tribute was paid the late Rev. Father James Coyle, whose eX- ample in Christian work Father Ker- rigan hoped to emulate
 Pleased At Appointment
 Tt has seemed good 10 Almighty Bishop that I be appointed pastor of this parish of St. Pauls," said Father Kerrigan.
 No doubt, and very naturally, you are just now on the alert for some statement from me as to my senti- ments in the matter; as to what may be my policy in the future guidance of the parish. Are not only on the alert but, considering the intense strain you have ben under of late, in no small degree anxious.
 Since being appraised of my ap- I pointment. and looking forward to i this day, I have thought of many things, inspired by charity and de- void of bitterness; but, even so, the more l pondered them, the more my sense of prudence suggested that, all things considered, the less I would say perhaps the better. Were l to consult my own feelings, I would | fa aert, xtrftb n inn. inaries, the work for which l have been appointed; to preach the gospel of Christ crucfied and to take up the spiritual and material work of this parish, allowing my statements and my policy to discover them selves according as l would do that work
 "But appreciating deeply all the sad trials that have been yours. l could not but feel that to introduce my self thus brusquely were handy seemly. hardly the conduct of a 1 priest and pastor could not but feel that some words at least were due you to calm and reassure your an xious hearts to inspire patience and resignation, to raise your hopes for a happier future.
 Came Here Voluntarily
 "As preface, then, 10 what l am about to say let me state that my comings here is entirely voluntary. l No pressure was brought to bear, no emphasis laid upon any marked fit ness of mine for this position. The l appointment was in the course of 1 human events, open for me. I might accept it or refuse it, and which l ever I would do, the work of the ] at.,.,od -ro,,ld otfn cyo I apppOtpd l 1t because the strain of my long carer as a teacher of youth, God-ordained land God-rewarded task that it was, was beginning to tell; because clim- atic conditions in my erstwhile field l of labor had never been favorable to my health; because, and this es- pecially. 1 wished to experience again and as long as the good God would allow me, that intimate touch be- tween a priest and his people con- stituting the joy and the crown or the sacredotal office and from which had, in many respects, been so l long sundered
 T knew of no better place where l In to relieve that strain, to conserve tfat health, to enjoy that dear re- llationship than in Birmingham ana, especially, in St. Paul's, and so l | LOOK duNdUldSS 0i thi9 NPPNt tN-.@S
 Not HandpicIxed superman
 q mention these seemingly IT. relevant things out of deference to the other worthy pastors of this i diocese. and to show that, while our good Bishop had, no doubt, sufficient lconfidence in my powers, still l have not been sent here as a hand-pieked super-man gifted with any rarely special personality and mental en- dowment demanded by the work here | to be done. l mention these things fthat you may not expect anything or an extraordinary, or revolutionary nature on my part. am Just plain, ordinary priest, not one whit more able, more spiritual or more nrudent than the other good priests l of the diocese, than are the other worthy pastors of this city and dis trict. who, despite that their churches and parishes are neither so large nor so conspicuous as St. Paul are yet doing most zealous and irult- ful work for the good of their flocks' for the community and for the church in general.
 And now as to my sentiments. I declare sincerely that, since it has pleased Almighty God to change my
 
 come back to Birmingham, to my rev erend confreres of this district, and, especially to the people of N. PauPs. Glad to come back to Birmingh ham, the city that l learned to love during my brief sojourn here years agone. with it's beautiful surrounds, it's ln- vigorating atmosphere, It's pleasant homes, it's many fine people, it's thriv- ing, pulslng industries, it's rich and lavish dover of natures gifts be- slowed by a beneficient Creator. To Birmingham, that has ever held my interest, that l have ever loved to re- visit, whose advancement has ever rejoined my heart, and in whose splendid future my faith is as fixed as the rock-rlbbed hills that guard her round about.
 Glad to Come
 Glad to come among the reverend and beloved pastors of this district. those valiant warders on the walls of Israel; to align myself with them in the God given work that Is ours; to seek their counsel when in doubt; to be amenable to their prudent judg- ment when occasion requiret
 But happy, thrice happy, am I to come back to the people of St. Paufs; the true and open E>9rted, unassum- ing. sincerely friendly staunchly Catholic people of St. Pauls, types as they are of the whole districts Catholic life. and among whom, in those dear, dead days beyond recall. and quite unconsciously, I made not few warm and fast friends. Many that I once knew and revered have since gone to God. indeed, but I am sure the sterling qualities of that fine old stock still live and so assert themselves In their children, that in those children I shall still behold the sainted souls who have gone before,