The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-04

In 1868, having received the
consent of his parents, ana ac-
companied by Father Hendricken,
then pastor OF the Immaculate
Conception parish, and later bishop
of Providence, r. T., he went to
Canada and entered the College Of
st Hyacinth, where he studied with
noted success until he was pro-
NOTED to the higher branches Of
philosophy and theology. which he
passed through at Mt. st Joseph's
seminary, Baltimore, Md. (See +.
A.. Here he was chosen sacristan
by the president, DR.. Bubriel,
man renowned for his sanctity and
learning.
During the summer Of 1873 he
was adopted as a student of the
Hartford diocese by the late
Bishop Mcfarland, and was or
dained at Mt. st. Mary's, Decem-
Der 22. 1877. by Bishop Gibbons.
He said his first mass in his native
city, at the Church Of the I'm
maculate Conception. during the
pastorate of the late Rev. Law
renee Walsh, Of lamented and
happy memory.
Soon after the ordination Of
Father McGivney he was appointed
by the Rt. Rev. Lawrence Nc
Mahon, bishop Of the diocese of
Hartford, as curate Of st. Mary's
Church, New Haven, and he la
bored in the parish for seven years.
1t was there that he conceived
the idea of great Catholic So
ciety to be restricted in its mem
bership to practical Catholics and
to be organized under the auspices
of the Church. He had seen many
Catholics fall away from the faith
through connection with secret
societies that were antagonistic to
all religion, SO he resolved to or
ganize one that Catholics could
join with the pre-sanction and en-
dorsement of the ecclesiastical au-
thorities. He associated with him
in the new enterprise such men as
Daniel colwell, James 7. Mullen.
Matthew C. O'Connor, Cornelius T.
Driscoll, John T. Kerrigan, and
william M. Geary, and with them
organized and Incorporated the
knights of Columbus, March 20,
1882.
After seven years labor as cur
ate in New Haven he was pro-
NOTED to the passionate of st.
Thomas parish, Thomaston. with
a thriving mission at Terryville.
He assumed charge of the parish
at Thomaston on November 1e.
1884, and labored there zealously
for six years, almost liquidating
the entire debt on the property.
But the vast amount of arduous
labor he had performed in the.
foundation of the knights of
Columbus and his parish work
soon began to tell upon him
and in the fall OF 1889 it became
evident that the end was near. but
although physical wreck, his in
tellect was clear ter the last and
he never ceased to be solicitous
after the welfare of his own flock
aud the organization to which he
had given so much of the best
.-ears of his life.
After a great deal of patient
suffering he was called to his re-
ward on August IA, 1890.
Father Mckinney was a man of
simple character, light hearted
anu OellSHteu III Tie COlAiQduiOn-
ship of children. Although rather
retiring in his disposition, he
possessed an indomitable will and
never was discouraged no matter
what obstacles might come in his
| way. He was never known to
cherish the slightest feeling of re-
sentiment toward those who diff
fered with him, his great charity
| in this respect being one of the
| marked features of his whole life.
He had no time for chickering's or
| contentious, his thoughts at all
| times being occupied with his
kpriestly duties and the work OF the
organization he founded and which
| was to him, after the church. near
est and dearest to his heart. His
power of organization and detail
was marvellous. He put himself
| in touch with the most minute
particle of 1t and-studied all its
| points In thorough and
systematic manner, 50 that those
who came after him found the
structure almost perfect.
4 Father mckinney is buried in
| the northw est corner Of the family
plot, which is located in Section.
A, in st Joseph's cemetery. just
a short distance off the driveway
leading to the right from the en-
trance to the cemetery and COM
mandlng a good view Of the public
! thoroughfara. Originally the plot