OTTAWA JOURNAL, Monday AUGUST 4, 1890.
ST. BRIDGET'S OPEN.
THE CEREMONIAL OF BLESSING BY
THE ARCHBISHOP.
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A successful Opening in Every Respect—The First parish Announcements—
$600 Collected ---Father Drummond's Sermons Yesterday.
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St. Bridget's Roman Catholic church in Lower Town was dedicated yesterday, the opening service taking place at 10 o'clock.
The attendance was very large, there being a large number of visitors from the other city parishes. Archbishop Duhamel along
with a number of other city priests blessed the interior of the church, assisted by Rev. Vicar-General Routhier, arch-priests
Rev. Canons Campeau and Plantin, deacons of honour, Rev. F. Lindsay of Quebec, deacon of office; Rev. Father Devine, order
of Jesuits, Montreal, subdeacon of office; Rev. J. Foley, cross bearer; Mr. J. O'Gara, master of ceremonies, Mr. W. F. Kehow,
incense bearer. The procession marched around the walls of the edifice three times and performed the usual interesting ceremonial,
after which the archbishop celebrated high pontifical mass, assisted by Bishop Grandin, of St. Albert, N.W. T., Rev. Father
McGuckin, Rev. Father Augier, Canons Campeau and Plantin, Vicar-General Routhier, Rev. Fathers Alo(?)nis, Lodis(?)lons, Dom
Benoit Allard and others.
The music was notably good and the choir was largely assisted by members of St. Joseph's choir and a number of friends,
under the direction of the Rev. Father Pallier Webb's Mass was sung. The soloists were Messrs. Gauthiere, Mr. S. Mahon, Mrs.
McGarr and Miss Jane Aumond. Mrs. Kearnes presided over the organ. McGillicuddy's orchestra of twenty three pieces played
during the service.
Rev. Father Drummond, the celebrated Jesuit orator of Montreal, preached the sermon, taking his text, " It is the house
of God and the gate of Heaven". The sermon was short, but of a most interesting and instructive character.
The first regular announcements of the new parish were then made by the Rev. Father McGovern, beginning with the death
of Mrs. Killeen of York street, who died yesterday morning.
On Tuesday morning a marriage will take place, the contracting parties being Mr. Henry Bingham and Miss Lizzie Divine,
both of the parish. The first child to be baptized is Frederick George Burns, son of Richard Burns of King st.
At the close of the service it was announced that the pews would be sold by auction next Sunday after High Mass. Mass will
be celebrated on week days at 7:30 a. m. and on Sundays at 8 and 10 o'clock. The chime of bells is expected in two weeks,
and in the meantime those of the Basilica will ring the call for prayers. The collections amounted to about $600.
Engravings of the church were distributed among the congregation at the conclusion of the service as souvenirs of the dedication
ceremony.
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