Evening star., 1944-03-17
St. Patrick's Parish
Marks 150th Year;
Gets PapaI Greeting

Greetings from Pope Plus XII,
through his apostolic delegate,
Archbishop Amleto A. G. Ciognani,
to st. Patrick's Parish, on the 150th
anniversary of its founding, was
read today to 1900 worshipers dur
ing the solemn pontifical mass by
the Rev. DR.. Ignatius Smith of Cath
olic University.
The message addressed to Msgr.
Lawrence j. Shehan, pastor of st.
Patrick's, was as follows:
II am indeed pleased to inform
you that on this memorable occasion
Of the 150th anniversary of the
founding of st. Patrick's Parish, our
most holy father, Pope Plus XII, has
very graciously deigned to impaIt to
you, the very reverend pastor, to
your reverend assistants, to all the
religious laboring in the parish and
to all the faithful of st. Patrick's,
his special apostolic benediction
while it is the duty and privilege
of my Office to convey to you this
august message of the sovereign
pontiff, I wish to offer my own per-
sonal congratulations and the assur-
ance of my good wishes. 1t is my
prayer that this particular blessing
of our holy father may serve as an
abundant reward for the work ac-
complished in the past, while at the
same time providing a source of en-
couragement and strength for the
years which lie ahead"
Parish History Traced.
DR.. Smith traced the history of
st. Patrick's Parish, declaring it had
an inborn tradition of unity of
leadership which the nine pastors
connected with the institution had
continuously developed.
DR.. Smith listed four points which
he asserted were the distinguishing
characteristics of the Irish people
love of learning, love of faith, love
OF liberty and deep love of action
and justice, as their generous gifts
and services to the underprivileged
and the weak show.
Msgr. Shehan pointed out that
these characteristics were those of
st. Patrick's Parish. Emphasizing
the love of freedom and the ad-
herence of the parish to its ideals,
Msgr. Shehan said, "St. Patrick S
was one of the first parishes to grasp
and enjoy this freedom under the
Bill of Rights. IL has guarded it
jealousy for $50 years. 1t will never
surrender it.
Its divinely stubborn devotion in
the name of God to faith, real learn
ing, sound liberty and ceaseless
action for human happiness, here
and hereafter, is a reflection of the
spirit of Ireland for hundreds of
years and of the spirit of the Catho-
lie Church for more tnan 10 cen
turies. The Republic will need
parishes like this III the future,
thousands upon thousands of them.
And it will get them with divine
truth and power, and this truth
alone will keep us free"
The Most Rev. Michael J. Curley,
Archbishop of Baltimore and Wash
ington, who officiated at the mass,
had a word of greeting for the peo-
pie of Washington.
AT this time 4 want to greet
everybody on st. Patrick's Day and
may God hold you all in the hollow
of His hand. This is one day when
you cannot isolate the Irish"
Other church dignitaries and
many members Of the Senate and
House also attended as we'll as Mai.
Edward j. Kelly, superintendent of
the Metropolitan Police Depart
merit, and United States Attorney
Edward M. Curran.
Veteran Recalls Last Year.
Pvt. Pat Manchester of 1874 Seven
teenth street NV, who returned
two days ago from the South Pacific
compared the services this year with
those held a year ago on st. Pat
rick's Day.
Then was on an outpost watch
ing for the Japs. There was an
other Irishman, Davey O'Connor
from Limerick, in the company
Anyway, a group of us got together
and held a little service, right in
the midst of the island foliage. We
then took few drinks and cele-
brated st. Patrick's Day in proper
fashion. Today l feel as though my
presence here in this fine church,
with the beautiful services going on,
is still dream"
Pvt. Manchester is here on a 90
day furlough.
Another serviceman who remem-
bered a st. Patrick's Day under far
different circumstances was Army
Chaplain Edward ]. Koniskey.
"In 1919 maS on hoard q 4rnnr