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Show FATHER FRANCIS CELEBRATES HIS ANNIVERSARY. x St. Elizabeth's double anniversary was celebrated Sunday, and thousands were present at solemn high mass and the earlier masses of the morning. Father Francis gave a graphic account of the expulsion of the Franciscan order or-der from Germany and of his departure later for America: the story of the first solemn high mass he celebrated in the old church in Fulda. Germany, Sept. 0. 1866, and other events in his life. It has been one of the hopes of Father 1 Francis' life since coming to America, that he might some time be sent back j to the Fatherland, where many of the j happiest days that he looks back upon were spent. But for twenty-five years he has labored in the western world and built up a strong place for his order or-der among the German Catholics and, instead of being released in his old age, to return to the monastery where he spent his youth, the provincial, Father Denis Schuler. after his visit here a few weeks ago, decided Father Francis would better remain.. He told him that after working so long in a eountrywith entirely different customs from the old one, if he went back he would not be satisfied, and that he would be better off in, St. Elizabeth's parish of Denver, which he had built up by his own en-t en-t ergy. than in the old monastery in Fulda. So Sunday, although there was a 'little 'lit-tle regret in Father Francis' sermon, he seems to have accepted the inevitable inevit-able and was glad to see the church filled with friends that had come to fill the places of the ones of his younger days. On either side of the great altar were flaming candelabra held aloft by the outstretched bands of statues in the forms of angels, the gifts of friends. A golden ostensorium. ciborium. wine and water cruets, miss'le and missle stand were also presented from friends in honor of this anniversary. In a few-days few-days a beautiful sanctuary lamp will hang before the altar, the gift of other friends, all of which show the deep regard re-gard for Father Francis and his work. At the solemn high mass Sunday the beauty of the service was augmented by a procession of little children, over l'O0 in number, all in white, who marched march-ed down the aisles to seats in front. They carried flowers and made a very pretty picture with their bright faces and summer gowns. The choir sung for the first time since vacation and, though it is considered one of the best in the city, it far surpassed sur-passed itself in the-service of Sunday. Father Francis was celebrant, and ! bad as assistants. Father Bernard, I deacon; Father Poulin. sub-deacon, j and as master of ceremonies. Bernard Froegel, a student of theology, who w ill enter the Franciscan order as priest in three years When Father Francis came to Denver Den-ver in 1SS7, the site occupied by St. Elizabeth's was the same as that today. to-day. But at that time it was only a little wooden cottage, where stands the fine church built since then by Father Francis' energy and the commodious orphanage of St. Clara, the monastery and its gardens. Father Francis spoke in special terms of affection of Archbishop Arch-bishop Corrigan, who gave him his first encouragement, when others said there was no room for a German priest in this country. He advised him to come west, where there were large numbers of his countrymen, and the result has been the present beautiful church of St. Elizabeth and its valuable surrounding property. Denver News. |