The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-23

RT. REV. JOHN WALsH-WAs
SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF AMER
lcAN COLLEGE AT RoME-WILL
HAVE DIOCESE in SOUTH DA-
koTA.
Thirteen years after he terminated
his career as a curate in st. Peters,
in Troy, N Y, to become the spiritual
director of the American College at
Rome, Rt. Rev. Bernard J. Mahoney.
Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
returned to St. Peters on September 8,
and was the celebrant and preacher
of the. solemn Mass. A large congre-
cation welcomed the DISTINGUISHED
prelate who even as a young priest
was held in high esteem and warm
afTectlon throughout the diocese His
rise to episcopal eminence has been
a matter of great satisfaction to his
many friends in Troy. Modest as al
ways, reticent about himself, the new
ly created Bishop delivered what may
be termed a farewell message to Troy
and the Albany diocese. He will leave
shortly to assume his new office.
introduced BY Pastor.
Bishop Mahoney was reintroduced
to the congregation by the present
pastor. Rev. William Fl. Walsh, who
made many kindly references to the
achievements of the former curate of
st. Peters. In reply Bishop Mahoney
said in part:
The people of this parish will al
ways be associated in my mind with
the first years of my priestly life.
The kindness of the welcome which
they gave me when, eighteen years
ago, | began my work as a young
priest and the edification which | re-
ceived during the five years of my
ministry here, are precious heritages
which no distance can depreciate and
no length of time can destroy. Often
during the past thirteen years while
/ was engaged in another portion of
the ViIsaarard of the Lord. nearly s.
900 miles away, have returned on
the wings of Imagination and renewed
the consultations that gave charm
to my life here. have never ceased
to thank God that my first ac-
quaintance with the active work of
the priesthood brought me into con-
tact with people whose faith was as
ardent and vital as that of the early
Christians, and whose respect and
for the Lords anointed
were such as could only be inspired
by spirit of generosity that looked
beyond the man and his shortcomings
and saw in every priest another
Christ.
Hence this morning my heart is fill
ed with gladness and I am delighted
to greet you all. appreciate the COM
pliment of your coming here in such
large numbers, and would have you
know that you had big share in my
prayers during the Holy Sacrifice of
the Mass.
Nor did 1 forget those near and dear
to you who have been called to their
reward during the past eighteen years.
Some of them | helped to die, others
have passed away in the intervening
years. They are all in my thoughts
today. My consolation is that I can
reach them by the bridge of faith, al
though here below, Il miss the touch
of vanished hand and the sound
of voice that is stilled."
Modest Towards Self.
OF myself,<I am conscious of nc
special talents that would account for
my appointment as a Bishop. BY
nature l am rather reserved. / vince
under the glare of publicity and have
yet to learn that have any of tho
power of leadership. Were to con
suit MY own inclinations, I should
| rather go through life in the wake oi
| another than be myself the head oil
| the procession. When realize that
| in our country, a Bishop must be a
| man of action and initiative, wonder
why / was selected to shape the
destinies of diocese. All my tastes
are along the lines of quiet an6
meditation, and all my past expe
rience has been under the guidance
of others.
My hope is that. God will supply fol
my deficiencies, and help me to meas
ure up to the dignity and demands o
the ,Episcopate. I know that some
times He. makes use Of Instrument
| that have no outstanding value in th'
eyes of the world in order that "pow
er may be made perfect in infrmity
/ remember that Holy Scripture say
"And whom He predestinated then
He also called And whom He callet
/ them He also justified. And whom
He justified, them He also glorified
il (Romans X-3O). "But the foolisl
things of the world hath God chosen
II that He may confound the wise; an
the weak things of the world hat
God chosen, that He may confoun
the strong. And the base things Q
the world and the things that ar
contemplate hath God chosen, an
|, things that are not, that He Nigh
|. bring to nought the things that are
, that no flesh should glory in Hi
4 sight"
IL Looks to Higher Guidance.
ii This thought gives me courage.
IGod is with me who can avail agains