Mr. James Ording, of Allegany, N. Y., was Censer Bearer and Messrs. John Baldwin and James Gilpatrick, of Allegany, N. Y., were Acolytes. Rev. Peter Caulay, Rector of St. Patrick’s Church, Erie, Pa., was Assistant Priest at the Mass.
Miss Ruth Markham, organist of St. Patrick’s Church, Belfast, N. Y., played the organ and, assisted by Mr. William Reidy, of St. Bonaventure’s College, Allegany, N. Y., presented an excellent programme of sacred music.
After the singing of the gospel of the Mass Rev. J.J. Dealy preached a sermon on the priesthood of the New Law, which on account of limitations in the matter of space must be held over till our next issue for publication.
At the conclusion of the Mass Father Gill gave his blessing to each member of the congregation. The people of Belfast irrespective of religious belief attended Father Gill’s first Mass.
Large representations from Angelica, Belmont, Belvidere and Friendship also came to witness the solemn services.
A great number of the relatives and friends of the young priest were present on the occasion. Among them the names of the following have been obtained: Mrs. Richard Gill, John Gill and Peter Gill, of Parsons, Pa., Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Crowley and daughters, Winifred and Ella, of Turtle Point, Pa., Miss Catherine Cauley, of Erie, Pa., William Gill and family, of Belmont, N. Y., Fred Dougherty and family, of Friendship, N. Y., A. J. Baker and family, John Baker and family, Mrs. J. McAndrews and sons, George and James, of Andover, N. Y., Daniel McCarthy and family, of Friendship, N. Y., Mrs. Peter Reynolds, Patrick Reynolds, James Keenan and wife, of Belmont, N. Y., E. J. Atherton and family and the Misses Meehan, of Angelica, N. Y., Sister M. Ludgardis and Sister Bernardo, of St. Francis Convent, Buffalo, N. Y., Revs. Peter and Charles Cauley, of St. Patrick’s Church, Erie, Pa., Rev. Francis P. Coughlin, of St. Joseph’s Church, Meadville, Pa., Rev. D. J. Mountain, of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Buffalo, N. Y., and Rev. J. J. McMahon, of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Buffalo, N. Y.
A delegation consisting of Messrs. McPherson, Wall, Shaughnessy and O’Connor came to give expression to the felicitations of the Knights of Columbus, of Wellsville, and to present to Father Gill a handsome gift from the society.
An Unknown Newspaper - 1908