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Show j f- I Diocese :of Helena. I V l X' Progress of the Church and Doings of the Catholic X People in Montana. . " ; BY BESSIE M. LAWLOR. J , 'f j '. : - 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- -f ; HELENA 4 - 4- 4- 4- -4- 4- -- 4- 4 4- - 4- 4- 4- 4- RETREAT OF THE CLERGY. (Correspondence Intermountain Catholic.) Helena, Mont., Sept. 3. The Priests retreat closed last Thursday evening, participated in by all the clergy of the diocese. The time of retreat is entirely piven up to religious maditatiop. study and Dryer with instructions and addressed ad-dressed by the father conducting the retreat. The following: fathers were present: Rev. C. M. Aken, Rev. M. A. Van de Velde, Helena; Rev. P. Desiere, Rev. . J. J. Callahan, Rev. J. Enerlish, Rev. C. Harrington, Butte; Rev. F. Batens, Rev. Cassidy, TValkerville; Rev. G. Tollett, Anaconda; Rev. M. A. Coopman, Anaconda; Rev. H. Allaeys, Great Falls; Rev. J. Pudenz, Belt; Rev. J. O'Brien Fort Benton, Rev. H. Artz, Lewistown: Rev. A. Mueller, St. Labre mission; Rev. Cyril Pannelyn, Miles City; Rev. R. DeRychere, Deer Lodge; Rev. C. McCourt. Dillon; Rev. J. Pir-nat, Pir-nat, Livingstownw; Rev. A. Holtman, Billings; Rev. J. Blaere, Marysville; Rev. F. O. Farrell, Towwnsend. and Rev. Father Cataldo of the Society of Jesues, who conducted the retreat. One of the grandest and most impres sive ceremonies which have ever taken place at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart took place last Thursday evening. even-ing. Never in the history of the church of Montana has such a scene been witnessed by the congregation. Twenty-eight priests who made the retreat with Father Hopper, Paullst missionary, mission-ary, and Father Cataldo, S. J.. and Bishop Brondel numbering thirty-one cclesiasts, a number never before seen together in Montana, marched in solemn procession bearing the relics of the Marytered St. Leo from the Episcopal Episco-pal residence to the repository under the Blessed Virgin's altar in the cathedral. ca-thedral. Long before the hour for the procession the cathedral was crowded and several hundred people lined up from the church to the Bishop's house. From the eager faces one could easily see some uncommon event was about to transpire and just at twilight aa the last bright tinge of a perfect golden sunset , was leaving a clear and cloudless cloud-less northern sky the solemn and stately state-ly procession bearing the urn with the sacred remains slowly chanting psalms, made its appearance. The interested onlookers made way for the procession and the alreadv anxious look melted away into one of solemn serenity. Heads were immediately uncovered and manv dropped on their knees to bow their heads in holy reverence. The order of the procession was as follows: Eight altar boys, three young ladies bearing the banner of the children chil-dren of Mary; twenty little girls in white with wreaths of flowers on their heads and carrying baskets of flowers which they strewed all along the way and down the church aisle, stepping aside to allow the father to pass. Rev. C Harrington, Rev. J. Callahan, Rev. H. Artz and Rev. J. Pudenz bore the casket with the sacred relics to the ?.!t?r. . . - The Fathers all marced in the procession proces-sion bearing lighted candles, followed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Brondel in mitre and crozier, attended by the two con-suitors, con-suitors, Father Diesere -'and : Father Alleys, dressed in their mattocks. Father English was cross-bearer -and Fathers Aken-' and McCourt -were cantors. Father Blaere master of ceremonies cere-monies and Father O'Brien theurifer. The altars were beautifully adorned and myriads of lights threw their bright rays over the whole scene and made a picture not soon to be' forgotten. forgot-ten. All this time the prayers chanted for such an occasion were chanted by the clergy, kneeling around the altar. Bishop Brondel then addressed the congregation con-gregation on the solemnity of the occasion oc-casion of placing the remains of St. Leo in the Cathedral. He told them of the pleasure it gave him to see such reverence and devotion as he witnessed wit-nessed that evening among the people, peo-ple, and further said he hoped that St. Leo would be the means of bringing manv Braces and blessings especially to the youth and that many deeds of love and fidelity to the church would spring from this great blessing of having hav-ing exposed for the veneration of the faithful the remains of St. Leo Maryrr. The letters of authenticity from the Bishop of Onogini, Rome, was read; the one in Latin for the clergy by Father Desiere and in English by the Bishop. The congregation and clergy all united in reciting the prayer to St. Leo, after which Bishop Brondel gave solemn benediction. The members of the congregation then passed up the middle aisle to view the remains prostrated pros-trated on bended knees before the shrine. Bishop Brondel is particularly particular-ly Interested in the Christian education educa-tion of the young of his diocese and no grander expression coojd be given than the solemn and imposing ceremony of placing the remains of the Marytred Saint in the Cathedral. The impression impres-sion of such a scene can never leave the minds of those who were present. After the services at the church the clergy . repaired to the - Bishop's 'resi. dence to partake of a repast in-the dining room. His Lordship was delighted de-lighted with the success of the retreat and took this occasion to make known his feelings to the clergy. It certainly was a-n impressive Bight to see our dear Bishop surrounded by so many noble looking men from the white-haired white-haired pioneer priest to the young and newly ordained-Driest ready to follow the path marked out by the wise counselor coun-selor of the Episcopal See. Bishop Brondel congratulated Father Calaldo on the grand work he performed and also spoke about the three events the clergy were celebrating that evening the translation of the Remains of the Marytr and, the re-election of Fathers Desiere and Allaeys, consultors for the diocese, which takes place every three years, and thirdly, the birth of St. John's Ecclesiastical Society, the of. fleers of same and all particulars will be given next week. Father Callanan then addressed Father Calaldo on behalf of the clergy of Butte, and in his usual eloquent style said: It gave him great pleasure to extend to the Rev. Father Calaldo many expressions of gratitude in the name of the Butte Fathers for the excellent ex-cellent work done by the Jesuits Fathers Fath-ers all through the country. He said, that he felt like a child of the Jesuits, he went to school to them in his earlv youth and was surrounded by their influences and all through his life he was more or less thrown in contact with them and felt that no matter which direction their path leads the noble self-scrificing qualities of the Jesuits will always be felt. Father Aken spoke in behalf of the clergy of Helena, thanking Father Cataldo for the grand work of the retreat just finished, and dwelt on the good that must accrue from such spiritual spir-itual intercourse. Father Allaeys and Father Gallagher then thanked Father Cataldo ?.!! in the same tone for the good work done. Many instances that took place during dur-ing the. translation of the remains were recited and one of the Fathers related the following: While the vast congregation was viewing the remains of St. Lea an old man with white hair who had passed j many milestones was kneeling in the I rear of the church very deeply impressed impress-ed with the services. He stopped one of the fathers and asked him in a suppliant sup-pliant tone to take his rosary and let it touch the shrine of the Saints. The father devoutly complied with the request re-quest and, as the priest returned the rosary, the old man seemed melted into contrition. He said to the father: "This is the first time I have been in the church for years and I cannot go , home tonight, after seeing the beautiful beauti-ful ceremonies, without going to confession." con-fession." The kind father heard his confession, and the gray-haired old man went his way rejoicing and thanking the great St. Leo for the grace of true repentance. |