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Show 4- -f X Ordination of t j t Tatber fiouck X "Tiffin, O., June 12. Since the day of the organization of St. Joseph's Parish in 1S45, but four of Its members have attained the dignity of the priesthood. These were J. F. Siebenfoercher of Kenton; Ken-ton; Rev. Jacob F. Kuebler of Massil-lon; Massil-lon; Rev. George F. Houck of Cleveland, Cleve-land, and Rev. Frederick A. Houck, of this city, who said his first mass last Sunday. "The church was beautifully decorated decorat-ed and the services most impressive. At 10:15 o'clock the Knights of St. John escorted into the church the young Levite and the priests in attendance at-tendance upon the ceremony. : They were followed by a score of little girls, attired in white, and sixteen acolytes. As soon as the priests took their places at the altar the High Mass began, officered as follows: Celebrant, Rev. Frederick A. Houck; assistant priest, Rev. George F. Houck, Cleveland; Cleve-land; deacon, Rev. Jacob F. Kuebler, Massillon; sub-deacon, Rev. Father Baumgardner; master of ceremonies. Rev. Thomas F. Conlon; present in the sanctuary. Rev. John P. Puetz and Rev. M. Healy, and Rev. Father Pfiel. "The Mass sung was a part of the musical Arentz and Witt Masses, rendered ren-dered with inspiring effect. Rev. Nicholas Pfiel of St. Peter's Church, Cleveland, delivered for the occasion one of the best sermons ever heard within the walls of the sacred edifice. He eloquently reviewed the life of a young man who prepares himself to be elevated to the priesthood, telling of his joys and trials. "Father Pfiel then spoke at length of the consolations and obligations of the priestly state, and concluded with an impressive address of congratulation to the young man newly ordained to Its sacred duties. " 'From far and near,' the preacher began, 'we have assembled here today to-day to witness a ceremony which always al-ways appeals most strongly to the heart of a Catholic Christian and stirs it to the very depths the celebration oi a young priest s nrst mass. vv nen i the grapevine is in bloom, in the sun- j shine, rendering the air fragrant with I its delicate perfumes in the balmy ; days of midspring, the old grape-juice j that has lain quiet and dormant tor long months in a dark and deep cellar, becomes roily and begins to ferment. So, too, many an old parishioner of this venerable congregation of St. Joseph Jo-seph is stirred to the depth of his soul today on seeing this young man in the full bloom of his priestly power and dignity, offering the sacrifice of the New Law at -the altar of the Most High. Indeed, the entire congregation of this , historical church feels honored in him who today, for the first time, ascends the steps of the altar as a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedek. For, it was here In these saired precints that thirty-four years ago he received the Sacrament of Baptism. It was in the parochial school of this congregation that he received his first instruction in religious and secular knowledge. In this Church he attended Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. At that altar he was wont to serve I Mass id boyhood days. At that altar railing he received his First Communion. Commun-ion. In that sanctuary he was con-' con-' firmed by Bishop Gilmour,. of pious memory. And now, today, we see him clothed in the robes of a .priest, who is about to offer up his first Holy Sacrific. With the Psalmist we may exclaim: 'This is the day the Lord bath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.' "'For our mutual edification, my dear friends, let us consider today, briefly, some of the joys and, for contrast's con-trast's sake, some of the trials of the Catholic priesthood. Let me begin in the name of the Triune God, to whose special spe-cial blessing the present day is committed." com-mitted." The Rev. Father Pfiel went into a lengthy and detailed account of the arduous labors and hard study encountered encoun-tered in preparation for the priesthood; the many joys and consolations afforded afford-ed the heart of the young priest after his ordination; the trials, vows and obligations ob-ligations he has voluntarily taken upon himself. Continuing, he said: "Moreover, the priest much Dreach. To do so effectually he must prepare and study his sermons so as to announce an-nounce the Word of God every Sunday or Holy Day with becoming dignity, unction and fruit Furthermore, a priest says Mass every day, Sunday or week day, summer or winter, heat or cold. It matters not if he is in ' charge of some simple country church In the depths of rural solitude, or of a fashionable city congregation amid the din and turmoil of a metropolis, the Catholic priest stands at the altar to ,,renew. in. an unbloody manner that j --.;)( sarrifico which Jesus offered to i His heavenly Father in a bloody man- i ihf neijrnts ( Calvary. To say M.i-s th- priest must be rusting from nihlaiKht. On Sundays he often has t say two Masses, preach and give in.uruetii.ns while fasting. Perhaps he is in fh;:i-.' of some distant mission, has to drive miles over impassable romls in the heat of summer, or the cold of winter. Thus it may often happen that the priest must wait until tlu afternoon before a bit of foodl cross.-s his lips. , "Th-n atr.iin think of the sick calls. I I he Catholic priest must he ever ready to iut.-n.i the sick and dying, it matters mat-ters not if the patient be suffering "vm '"H'all'.ox. cholera or some other dread disiase. lie will Ko obedient to tne summons ;u the peril of his lite. "Another' source of trials to the priest is the kecpin- of his promise of Obedience made to his bisiion. In con--seauenee of this view he must be ever ready to -o where the ordinary may he pleased to send him. II... may love a place, a post, a church, a brother priest with whom he is associated: (still, when the bishop summons him to some other position he must no matter what his attachment and preferences pref-erences may be. "Hut. however much the trials and tribulations of the priest. Coil's grace shall never be wanting to sustain and strengthen him. Our I.orl promised this when He said to the apostles and their successors in the priesthood: 'Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the wurid'.' And when St. Paul asked the Lord that He might take away the trials that aillict-ed aillict-ed him, the answer came from heaven: , 'My grace is sufficient for thee." "And now, in conclusion, dear i friends and members of St. Joseph's ; congregation, permit me to congratu-' congratu-' late you on having produced other : priests to serve at the altar of the Most High. Nearly twenty-five years ago you were assembled here on ;l similar occasion. Then two of vour i sons, who are still among the living. offered up in your midst their first ! Holy sacrifice. One of them is Rev. ! Kuebler, pastor of St. Joseph's church, j Massillon; the other is Rev. George ; I F. Houck. the very efficient Chancellor: of the Diocese of Cleveland. Both are at the altar and ornaments of this diocese. dio-cese. Priestly vocations are the best proofs of a congregation's faith, and piety. Let me also congratulate the worthy brothers and sisters and relatives rela-tives of the young levite. It's a happy day on which a priest is born into the , family. If, as Sacred Scripture says,, an entire household is blessed by a good servant, how much more will it not be i blessed by a priest, the dispenser of j God's benediction?" Turning and facing the young priest, ' the speaker said: "Finally, permit me to felicitate you. beloved young priest, on this most auspicious au-spicious occasion. The long years of , study and struggle have at .est come; to an end, and you have reached the bright goal of God's altar. ou are a. priest of the Most High. Oh, that your parents might have lived to see th i.-s day! But though absent in the flcTn,, they are present in spirit, especially' your good mother, who before her death, provided the chalice you are about to hold aloft to the living God. May thi hour add to their bliss in heaven! And now, noble priest, arise and proceed to the altar. Ansrels hover 'round you;' the spirit of father and mother is near you. The prayers of an entire congregation congre-gation accompany you. May this be the beginning of a long life of priestly labors la-bors spent in the service of God for the good of souls in time and eternity." eterni-ty." At the conclusion of the mass the young levite made a few remarks, during dur-ing which he heartily thanked all present for the interest they manifested manifest-ed in the occasion in which he was the principal, and the manner in which he delivered himself of the well chosen and appropriate words convinced all who heard him that he will develop into in-to an excellent pulpit orator. After the Angeles was prayed, by the congregation, the young priest bestowed be-stowed his blessing upon relatives and invited guests, all of whom approached the chancel rail. The service over, relatives and invited in-vited guesta repaired to the Ursuline convent, where an elegant banquet was served. Among the guests present pres-ent were more than one- hundred relatives rela-tives from all parts of the United States, besides Sister Mary Ursula and Sister Mary Otillia. sisters of the young priest ,and more than 200 relatives and friends from the city of his boyhood. In the evening, Vespers, one of the prettiest ceremonies of the church, was celebrated by the new priest, and again the edifice was filled. The. priests present on the a'.tar were: Revs. Kuebler, George F. and Frederick Freder-ick A. Houck, Puetz, Farrar and Klee-kamp. Klee-kamp. At the conclusion of the service ser-vice the young priest invited those who desired it to come forward and receive re-ceive his blessing. About all of the vast assemblage accepted the invitation. Rev. Frederick A. Houck was 'born in this city April 5. 1S6J. and is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Houck. Ho spent the last fourteen years at school, preparing himself for the priesthood, and his constant hard-work culminated in his ordination, which took place in Cleveland Saturday. The last five years, excepting the period between last February and his ordination, were spent in a Jesuit seminary in Valken-burg, Valken-burg, Holland. The ceremony attendant attend-ant upon the saying of his first mass will long be remembered as one of the 'bright pages in the history of St. Joseph's Jo-seph's church. He will remain in Tif- . -nd '-icinity about ten days, after which he will begin active duty in St. Ann's . church, Delphos, succeeding suc-ceeding Rev. Joseph B. Alten, who also said his first mass in St. Joseph's church a few years ago and who, for a time, acted as assistant assist-ant priest of St. Joseph's. Rev. Alten has been given full charge of a congregation con-gregation in another part of the diocese. |
