The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-03

nowned Archabbey of St. Vincent at Latrobe, Pa.
 Young and brilliant as student, his serious purpose attracted the favorable attention of Bishop Charles F. Mcconnell. Under Bishop McConnelps influence in Rome, it was arranged for this young scholar, who still was below the canonical age for ordination, to enroll for graduate work in theology at the College of the Propaganda. Bishop Mcconnell himself be- slowed orders on Father Mundelein in Rome, June 8, 1896. A priest at g, advancement came rapidly to Father Mundelein. After serving briefly as Bishop McConnell's sec- retary, he took charge of a Lithu- anian church in Williamsburg, N. | r., then became rector of the Brook lyn Cathedral chapel, Queen of All Saints. There he built maginifi- cent Gothic church and school - first of the many archi- tectural achievements for which he became famous.
 Became Chancellor of Diocese In 1897, rewarded for his capa- city for business and organization, he became Chancellor. of the Brook lyn diocese.
 In less than six years his prog ress began to gain recognition ln Rome. In 1903, the first of a series of important honors was bestowed htvr1 E1ircf noV hic oNNniyHt O ment as censor of the Liturgical Academy, significant in view of the fact he was the first American to receive the honor.
 Next he became a member of the illustrious Academy of the Arr cadia, a Roman body few Ameri- cans before or since have been in- vited to join. He received in 1908 the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology from the University of Propaganda in Rome.
 Auxiliary Bishop Next
 Bishop Mcconnell soon began to feel the burden of his episcopal duties more and more. In 1909 he appealed to the Vatican for an assistant. In the preceding months, he had come to depend heavily upon his vigorous, efficient chan cellor and 1t was Msgr. Mundelein who became his aide as titular Bishop of Loryma and Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn.
 Then came the death in 1915 of Archbishop James Edward Quigley of Chicago. Continuous educational and charitable administration had kept the Brooklyn bishop in favor with the fathers of the church and he was sent to succeed Archbishop Quigley.
 In Chicago, the archbishop be- gan his greatest work as a builder, career unparalleled in church history.
 His efforts produced the worlds finest parochial school system Americas leading theological school, the Seminary of St. Mary of the Lake was built at cost of $10,000, ,000.
 New hospitals, orphanages, con- vents, rectories, and parish plants were ertected under his direction Catholic charities increased their work and foreign and domestic missions prospered with the aid of Chicago = which now gives more than any other diocese in the world,
 When the war came, the diocese shifted into line with contributions of man power for the military, of supplies for the Red Cross, of wealth for Liberty loans.
 It was an astounding growth.
 Then there came in 1924 brief notice from the archbishop:
 "It is with feelings of singular joy and gratitude that I announce that I have been called to Rome by Our Holy Father to be raised to the cardinalitial dignity in the com ing consistory on the 24th day of March,"
 Departure Marked in U. s.
 For the first time in history, the