Milford chronicle., 1957-12-27
Father POUer Died
In PhiLd. Last Saturday

continued from page one)
will be master of ceremonies, and
the Rev. James T. Hemmel, an as
sistant pastor of ST. Peters Cathe-
dral Parish, assistant master of
ceremonies.
Music of the solemn pontificial
mass of requiem will be under the
direction of the Rev. Anthony Di-
Michaele, assistant pastor of Our
Lady of Fatima Parish, Whining
ton Manor The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Eu-
gene t. Stout, pastor of st. Fran
els de Sales Parish, Salisbury, Md,
will be organist. Minor offices of
the mass will be filled by seminari-
ans of the diocese and altar boys
of the parish.
Bishop Cartwright will give the
absolution of the body at the con-
clusion of the mass. Burial will be
in the church cemetery. Father
Powers body will be taken to Our
Lady of Lourdes' Church on
Thursday afternoon and will lie in
state before the main altar, with
guards of honor in attendance until
and during the requiem mass.
A native of Tipperary, Ireland,
Father Power was educated by the
Christian Brothers at Nenagh,
County Tipperary; later at st.
Flannan's College at Ennis, County
Glare, and took his higher studies
for the priesthood at All Hallow's
College, Dublin, where he also
earned a master of arts degree. He
was ordained to the priesthood in
June, 1919, at All Hallows' College
by Bishop McGrory.
Later in 1919, Father Power came
to the United States. He served in
the Archdiocese of Chicago and
Brooklyn for a number of years and
afterwards taught at Northeast
Catholic High School, Philadelphia,
and at Salesianum High School,
Wilmington.
He began pastoral studies as
priest of the Diocese of Wilmington
Feb. IL, 1887. The Most Rev. Dr.
Edmond J. FitzMaurice, bishop of
Wilmington, appointed Father Pow
er first as an assistant pastor to
the late Father Alfred Jones of ST
Johns Parish, Milford; later as
assistant, there is the late Father
Eugene Mccarthy; and afterward
as assistant pastor of st. Agnes
st. Edmond's).
On Jan. 1, 1915, the Bishop of
Wilmington appointed Father Pow
er to organize the newly-created
Our Lady of Lourdes' Parish, in
the Seaford area. Father Power
found temporary living quarters at
once, and first masses and other
services for some time were con-
Quoted in former grocery store
on Pine Street, Seaford Later the
modern rectory and church were
built
The story of Father Powers
struggle to develop the parish is
one of more than usual interest.
When he was assigned as rector of
what had been st. Mary's Church,
Seaford, there was no church build
ing, and the priest himself lived for
la long time in two rooms over
restaurant.
Difficulties, however, were an old
story to a priest born and educated
in Ireland, and Father Power ap-
preached them reSolutely and
gradually overcame many of the
biggest ones.
The parish which started with
only a few Catholic families has
grown until now there are several
hundred family groups within its
confines.
Surviving Father Power are
number of cousins in the United
States, and two married sisters,
both living in Ireland.
Bishop .FitZMaurice has named
the Rev. Cassian O'Shea, OFM,
Cap, superior of the Capuchin
Franciscan st. Patrick's Monas-
terry, Holly Oak. to be in charge of
the Seaford Parish temporarily.