Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-08
ATLANTA coNv1crs MOURN

FOR CHAPLAINNaT. j. BYRNE
The February issue of Good Words,
the monthly publication OF the federal
prison at Atlanta, Cd, has On its front
page a double column cut of the late
Father Michael j. Byrne, native of
Norwich Catholic chaplain at the big
United States penitentiary from 1917 I'M
til his death, in Boston, Jan. Sth last.
"A convict who signs himself y. F. b"
and who explains that he was the chap
lains secretary for three and one-half
years writes the page memorial tribute to
Father Byrne. surrounding a poem in a
deep border, also signed J. F. B. THIS
memoriam is an interesting account of
the work which Father Byrne did for the
men of Catholic faith among the 2,1s4
convicts in the institution. From small
beginnings after their Catholic chapel
had been completed by the men, the at
tendance at the Sunday mass increased
from fifty or sixty to close to 500.
The sorrowing prisoner pours out his
heart in gratitude to the dead priest for
the spiritual help which he>himself has
receivedN through Father Byrnes coun-
tsel and encoura cement and he declares
that his associates. within the prison
walls mourn with him and pay the same
tribute to their chaplain.
His sketch recalls that when IS years
old. Michael Byrne entered st. Paul's
Preparatory School in Pittsburgh to pre-
pare himself for the priesthood, but two
years later his preceptor advised him to
abandon his ambition. He follows him
through his association with theatrical
life his withdrawal from the world and
his studies and preparation up to the
date of his ordination as a priest, June
! II, 1913, by special dispensation. at the
| Cathedral in Altoona. Penn, by Ri Rev
Eugene A. Garvey. Then he describes
Father Byrne's arrival at the prison and
narrates the gradual manifestation of
the earnest chaplain's influence end
work SO that men turned from indffer-
ence and encouragement TO faithful per-
formance of their hitherto neglected re-
ligious duties. although attendance at
church is not compulsory. The writer
continues: How did he do It? The an
swer is a Reputation of the old prison
system, direct proof of, the utter fail
ure of its methods. Kindness. charity
and reason pitted against distrust, bru-
tally and humiliation.
It did not take the inmates long te
find out that on the door of Father
Byrnes heart they had but to knock In
j order to be received.
To him, the white-haired priest Of
God, it was a labor of love. His wori
has been written not only behind tht
! gray, concrete wall in beautiful houst
of prayer, in the Byrne athletic stadium
where the men spend their Saturday ana
Sunday afternoons in all kinds of sport
and in the hearts of every inmate, bu
: from the gulf to the snow-clad reaches
of Canada. from the eastern shores t
where the Pacific rolls its waves through
: the Golden Gate. Thousands of Catho
: lics-boys in the dawn of their man
hood men long past the noontide Of life
!, have come and gone since, Father Byrn
4 first took charge. And few If any o
E them, have left the prison house with
!, ont having made their peace with Go,
1 and shaken OF the shackles Of the past
: strong in their reborn faith to brave tn
{ storms and Gains of life. They came t
] him with their little troubles and wor
: ries, with their heavy burdens and heart
!. aches in the confessional and as man I
O man., and though heNcou1d not give ther