The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-13
CITY. PREPARES TO
PAY LAST RESPECTS
TO BELOVED PRIEST
Body Of Father Stag Lies in
State At St. Mary's Where
He Served as Pastor

A bereaved Bismarck viii pay its
last respects Tuesday to the memory
Of Very Rev. John A. H. Stag, rector
Of st. Mary's procathedral here for
10 years, when funeral and burial
services will be conducted. Father
Stag died last Friday.
A pontifical funeral High Mass will
be celebrated at st. Mary's by Rt. Rev.
Vincent Wehrle, bishop Of the Bis
marck diocese. beginning at $50
o'clock. Following the services at the
church the body will be buried in 81.
Mary's cemetery.
No children viii be permitted to at
tend services Tuesday morning, 1t Is
announced by Rev. Father Henry Hol-
leman, assistant rector Of st. Mary's,
special services for the children hav-
Ing been celebrated Monday morn
Ing.
Pews In the church will be reserved
for special groups which will attend
the last rites, including state, county
and city officials, members Of the To-
cal ministerial association, visiting
priests, and organizations and 90
cieties Of the local parish.
The funeral choir will include only
priests from the Bismarck diocese,
with about q dozen voices expected.
In addition, between 20 and 30 pre-
lates from throughout the Northwest
area are expected here, according to
Rev. Father Holleman.
Nebraska Bishop Invited
Rt. Rev. Anton Kucers, Lincoln.
bishop OF the Nebraska diocese, had
been invited here to celebrate the re-
QUEEN Mass but he was unable to
come, having recently undergone an
operation for appendicitis.
Children Of the city packed St.
Mary's procathedral Monday morn
ing as Bishop Wehrle celebrated q
pontifical funeral High Mass. Other
officials Of the Mass were Rev. Father
Holleman, deacon; Rev. Father Arm
old Backes, sub-deacon, and Rev.
Father Andrew Kolbeck OF st. An
thony, pastor Of ceremonies.
Following celebration of the Mass
Bishop Wehrle delivered q short SER
mon.
Special guards Of honor, including
members Of the local Knights of Col
umbus and Catholic Order Of Men
Foresters, maintained vigil all day
Sunday at the bier in Calnan's Fun
eral Home. Members Of the two or
CARNATIONS also kept guard over the
casket throughout the night at St.
Mary,s church.
The public was permitted to see the
body from 2 p. m. to S p. m. Sunday
at the funeral home. Shortly after
$50 o'clock, the remains were taken
to st. Mary's church, escorted by all
organizations in st. Mary's parish.
Organizations In the procession in
cluded the Knights Of Columbus,
Catholic Order Of Men Foresters,
Catholic Daughters of America, Ca
tholic Order Of Lady Foresters, altar
society, missionary society and St.
Mary's Sodality.
Church Filled To Capacity
Rev. Father Holleman blessed the
body as It left the funeral home and
received It at the church. From p.
m. to 8 p. m. the public was permitted
to see the body at the church and the
procathedral was filled to capacity
during the entire period.
At 7:30 O'Clock Rev. Father Hole
man recited the stations Of the Cross.
Bishop Wehrle has asked that no
one send flowers to the church for the
funeral. saying that It Is improper
p send flowers for the priests rites.
County and city offices will be clos
ed Tuesday morning during the fun
eral to permit officials and employees
to attend the rites.
A message Of coincidence was re-
ceived Saturday by Rev. Father Holle-
man from Rev. Father r. ]. Sheehan,
Portland, Ore, native Of Bismarck.
The message read: Am deeply upset
over good Father Slag;S death. You
know I felt he was like an older
brother to me. I tried to get permiS-
sion to 60 to the funeral but 1t is i'm
possible at present. Deepest sympathy
to you, the people Of Bismarck and
Frank CRev. Father slag,s brother,
who lives north Of the city,. Letter