The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-24
THOUSANDS GO
PAST BIER OF
FATHER GAv|SK
Rich and Poor Alike Pay
Last Respects to Famed
City ChurChman.
SERVED HERE AT YEARS
Chancellor of Diocese Won
RenoWn for Constant
Charitable Work.

Indianapolis today prepared to
pay its last tribute to one of its best
beloved citizens, Monsignore Frances
H. Gavisk, vicar-general and chancel-
Tor of the Indianapolis diocese OF
the Roman Catholic church, who
died Saturday at st. Vincent's hos
oital. He was rector of st johns
! Catholic church.
Father Gavisk, friend of the poor
and the rich alike, whose public
and private charitable work had
brought him nation wide renown,
had been i'll two weeks with bron-
chial pneumonia.
Although subject to recurring i'll
ness more than ten years, he had
remained active and vigorous, re-
fusing to give up his duties.
Thousands Pass Bier
Thousands of friends in all sta
lions of life passed his bier Sunday
and today to pay their respects. The
body will continue to lie in state,
dressed in the violet veStmentS of
the mass, in st. Johns rectory, 1875
West Georgia street, until Tuesday
afternoon, when it will be taken to
the church, of which he had been
pastor since 1890.
Clergy of the diocese will sing the
office of the dead at $50 a. m.
Wednesday.
At 10. Bishop Ledvina of the Cor
pus Christi (Tex0 diocese will be
celebrant at a pontifical requiem
mass.
The Rev. Michael Lyons, pastor of
Our Lady of Lourdes church, will be
assistant priest; the Rev. John
O'Hare, pastor of st. Simon's
church, Washington, and the Rev.
Peter Killian, pastor of Holy Name
church, Beech Grove, deacons of
honor; the Rev. Patrick Griffin,
Chicago, deacon of the mass; the
Rev. Maurice O'Connor, pastor of
st. Joan of Arc church, subdeacon;
the Rev. Elmer j. Ritter, rector of
SIS. Peter and Paul cathedral, and
the Rev. Ambrose j. Sullivan, as
sistant pastor of st. Johns church,
masters of ceremonies.
Born in Evansville
The clergy choir of indianapolis,
directed by the Rev.. Clement Bos-
Ter, will sing the requiem.
The funeral sermon, after mass,
will be preached by the Right Rev.
Joseph Chartrand, bishop of Indian
apolis.
Trustees of the church will be
pallbearers. They are John Rail,
John Blackwell, Frank Mcnamara,
John O'Brien, Frank Fletcher and
John McShane.
The 76-year-old priest was born
in Evansville, the son of Michael
and Mary Gavisk. He was educated
at st. Meinrad's college and
seminary.
For time he was a reporter and
later city editor of the Evansville
Courier, but at the \age of "a be-
gan study for priesthood.
Ordained in 1885
Ordained in 1885, Father Gavisk
was assigned as assistant rector of
st. Johns church in the same year
and has remained there ever since.
He was elevated to rector in 1890.
He was known as one of the
greatest social and welfare workers
in the nation He served as preSi-
dent Of the National Conference of
Charities and Correction in 1915
and 1916. after having been vice
president five years.
In 1929 he was awarded the In
dianapolis Community Fund medal
of distinguished service. He was a
member of the Indiana state board
of charities at the time of his death.
having served through various state
administrations for twenty-five
| years.
Father Gavisk had been a direc-
tor of the Family Welfare Society
almost as long. He also was vice
president of the Indiana chapter
American Red Cross, and was tire
less worker for relief of the stricken
during times of stress.
Gets High Rank in 1918
A trustee of the Indianapolis
Foundation, he held membership in
the Indianapolis Chamber of Com
merce, indianapolis Athletic Club,
Literary Club and indianapolis Art
Association.
Father Gavisk was named chan
cellor of the indianapolis diocese in
1895, his work in this post resulting
in Pope Benedict comforting upon
him in 1918 the title of monsignore
and Prothonotary Apostolic, the lat
ter being the highest rank of mon
signore.
Following an operation for re-
moval of gallstones about twelve
years ago, Father GaviSk was pre-
vailed upon by his friends to cease
his efforts and rest by taking
tour of Europe. While in Rome he
was granted an audience by the
pope.
AS a member of the George Rog-
ers Clark memorial commission,
he went to Washington in February
/ TO obtain from congress an appro-