New Britain herald., 1926-05-11
FOUR CHILDREN IN LIFE
 OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE
Remarkable Record by Sweeney Family of
 Clark Street

When Rev. Leo Walter Sweeney of los Clark Street is ordained to the priesthood on June 13, at the Catholic Foreign Missionary Semi nary Of America at Maryknoll, x. r, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jo- seph r. Sweeney will have given four children to religious life.
 Father Sweeney has been an un- usual scholar during his school days, and is being ordained at tho age Of 9 years, two years earlier than the age made by the laws of the church. X special dispensation has been granted him and on Sun day June %, q week after he is ordained, he will sing his first sol- cmn high mass at St. Mary's church, his home parish. He will eventually leaFe this country for Asia, where he will do work simi- lar 10 that of his brother. Rev. Joseph A. Sweeney, now a mission- ary in Korea.
 Other members of the family in r1 --a,U's life besides leo are Rev Joseph X. sweeney Mary who IS Sister N. Joseph Thcophane, sta toned at St. Francis convent in Torrington, and Margaret, now sta- toned at St. Francis hospital in Hartford and known as Sister Jo- seph Leo. Both sisters took their brothers names.
 Leo was graduated from St. Mary's school in 1915 and stood at the head Of his class in scholastic records. This was unusual when il was considered that he was only 12 years old while others in his class were his senior by two and three years. He then entered Theo- phane Maynard school and gradu- ated after a six year course. As q student at the Naryknoll school he was passed through the various stages leading 10 the priesthood as follows: Minor orders and the tenure. sub -djacouate. diaconate and on June 1S will receive the last. holy orders, which will make him priest.
 He will teach for about q year during which time older priests will hn sent to Asia to take up the teach- ing of religion among the natives there.
 Although Father Joseph Sweeney Of the family, was the first to study for the priesthood. his sister Mary, was the first 10 take the VOWS of re- liglous life. She is a teacher of 10 years service in Sr. Francis paro- chial school of Torrington. She was a graduate Of St. Nary's school, the Senior High school. and St. Angus tine Noyitiatr al West Hartford.
 Father Joseph Sweeney was or laincd on February S. 1920. just siA years ago. He taught in California and was thcu sent 10 Korea, He was a graduate of St. Mary's paro. chal school in 1908 and St. Thomas Seminary. He tlen went 10 Balti. more and received an \. B. degree
 Margaret was also St. Nary'' school graduate and took voco. 1 tional course at the Senior IIigf school She left school 10 take III nursing and while studying that pro fossion, decided to follow the path of her older sister and brother anJ enter religions life. While a nun sh' continued her medical study an' was also q graduate nurse, passinl .tho state examination, She has heel stationed at St. Francis hospital fo the past five years.
 Only two members Of the house the youngest of the family have no followed the cNampi" sot by the oth c~ four. They are Alice. a tcache at rhe Valentine B. Chamberlai
 school on East street. and Edward a. student at the State Trade schoo