Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-14
CURATE LEAVES ST. MARY'S TO
ASSUME ACTIVE SUPERVISION
maine CATHOLIC Boys CAMPS

en- of his church in the several VEN
lures which he was so largely instru-
mental in inaugurating, and which
have been carried on most success
fully:
During the half dozen years that
Father McGowan has been located in
this city the growth of and interest
in the st. Mary's Holy Name Society
has been most marked. There has
been an average attendance of $50
men at each monthly meeting and
nearly 1909 present at the altar on
the Sundays Of the quarterly commu-
MON. The st. Mary's Players, an ag-
gregation of talented amateur thes-
plans, was organized by Father NC
Gowan and under his coaching and d.
rection staged number of highly
successful productions.
The curate has also worked with
splendid success with the womens
and girls societies of the parish. The
Children of Mary Society has enjoyed
extraordinarily large attendance at its
meetings to participate in the pro-
grams directed by Father MCGOWAN.
1t is perhaps with the boys of the
church that Father MCGOWAN achieved
his greatest success. He demonstrate
ed his understanding of and sympathy
with the youthful members of the par
ish. and won their loyalty; and respect.
Under his leadership st. Mary's school
has entered athletic teams in compe-
tition with the other schools OF the
city in baseball, football. basketball
and hockey. The st. Mary's Drum
Corps, a uniformed group of young
players, has taken it's place amongst
the musical organizations of the city
and has it's place of honor In local
civic and community parades and DEM
onstrations.
In the summer of 1924 Rev. Nc
Gowan took group of the ST. Mary's
boys on two weeks camping trip to
North Pond of the Belgrade chain of
lakes. And 1t is in a much larger field
that his new work will be along SIM
liar lines as supervisor of Catholic
Boys Camps of Maine. His head
quarters will be at the Church of the
Sacred Heart at Portland. but through
the summer usonths he will be actively
occuP,sA in the direction of the big 55-
acre camp on the shores OF Crystal
Lake at Dry Mills.
Speaking at all masses at st. Mary's
church Sunday, Father MCGOWAN said
in part:
II will miss Augusta. which I have
come to look upon as my home. The
priests life is a sad life in some re-
spects. He has no family, yet he be-
longs to every family. He has no
children, yet all children are his. He
must be all things to all men that he
may lead all to Jesus Christ. I will
miss the parishioners of st. Mary's.
! who have been kindness itself since
came to Augusta.
Il will miss the men. women, boys
and girls of Augusta, no matter what
race or creed. I thank all my friends
in the city Of Augusta for their many
kindnesses. I thank all the doctors of
the city, the nurses of the General
Hospital, the doctors of the state Hos
pital and the nurses and attendants
there, the officers. doctors, nurses and
attendants at the National Soldiers
Home. Everything about Augusta will
be pleasant memory to me.
ITO the Pensioners of st. Mary's
to the people of Augusta I wish a most
happy and joyous Christmas, and no
matter where may be sent through
out the length and breadth of this
great State Of ours, will never for
get the men and women, the boys and
girls of this parish and Of this city.
Nav God bless you all.
ITO know. to esteem, TO love and
then to part, makes up life's tale to
many feeling heart"