The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-19
Monsignor Valdanbrir,i
 Praised By Transcript
Editorial Tribute Also Paid in Current Issue to Seven Other Prelates Honored by Church
 Great Local Interest in Appointments.

Four of the eight priests of the Hartford diocese who will be in- vested shortly with the purple robes of monsignor are particularly well known to Waterburians. Their pro- motion was hailed with great pleas ure by their many friends here. Es- pecially was the news of the eleva- tion of Rev. Joseph M. Valdambrini, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdeg church, made the occasion for city, wide rejoicing.
 Others of special local interest are Rev. John J. Fitzgerald of Naug- atuck; Rev. Matthek J. Traynor of New Britain, formerly pastor of St. Michaeps in Watreville and Rev. John H. Fitzmaurice of New Haven, formerly pastor of St. Patrick's church of this city. Most Rev. Maurice F. McAuliffe, bishop of the Hartford diocese also announc- ed yesterday through the Catholic Transcript the appointment of Rev. Joseph J. Papillon of Willimantic, Rev. John c. Lynch of Bridgeport, Rev. John J. Ambot and Rev. Stan- islaus F. Musiel, both of Hartford. The Transcript in felicitating the eight monsignori states editorially in part in its current issue as fol- lows:
 The Transcript experiences a re- turn of the paschal joys as it rec ords the generous honors which the Most Reverend Bishop of Hartford has secured from the Ro- man Pontiff as becoming recog- milton of long and meritorious labors in the Connecticut vineyard.
 Monsignor Fitxmaurice
 The Right Reverend Monsignor John H. Fitzmaurice, the first named, has been laboring in the Diocese of Hartford for flfty-seven years. He began in the east as early as 1882, and labored there for nearly thirty years. He came west by way of Norwich, and reached New Haven through Wa terbury. He is the first New Haven recipient of prelatial honors, and his purple has been very well mer- ited. Although priest for fifty seven years, he is strong and vig- orous. When the auto was young he mastered it and impressed it into service throughout his scat tered parishes in the eastern coun- ties. Over forty years ago he spent one of his vacations in driving his machine to the Pacific coast. His friends throughout the Diocese will wish him many years in his new office and will beg the Lord to continue his physical and intel lectual capabilities so that he may for many years travel from New Haven to Hartford and from New York as gleefully as he travelled from Jewett City to San Francisco when the twentytieth century was in its infancy.
 Monsignor Fitzgerald
 Next in point of service comes the Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Fitzgerald. He was born in Ireland, but theologically and phil osphically educated in America. As a curate he labored in the west, and then in the east. He came back to the center and to Crom- well where he was pastor for more than a decade of years. He was promoted to the pastorate of Greenwich in the year 1900. After some years there he resigned. went abroad, and returned to the Dio- cese where he was to labor for ten years as pastor of Westerly. The clergy of the Diocese recognize his exceptional ability. In his younger