A Priest's Silver Jubilee Celebrated at Baton Rouge

[…] Editor Morning Star: [...] Some subscribers of the Morning Star from this place [...] I know many more capable for the task are among your readers here, yet if all wait one for the other [...] Baton Rouge will, in the future, as in the past, be unheard of by your readers.

The event of the past week has been the celebration, by our well-loved pastor, Very Rev. C. De la Croix, of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his first Mass, an occurrence, I believe, quite rare in our State, and one of no slight importance to the humble servant who, for a quarter of a century, at the altar of the Most High, has daily offered up the Divine Sacrifice.

On last Wednesday, the eve of the anniversary, the ladies of the parish waited upon our faithful pastor, presenting him with a handsome present, [...] followed by the boys of the schools with a token from them. Shortly after dark the young men, accompanied by St. Vincent's [...] Band, made their appearance [...] to their spiritual director [...] as a mark of their love, esteem and reverence. This was to have been followed by a visit and present [...] from those faithful sons of the ever-faithful Isle, the "Hibernians," but, owing to [...], [...].

[...] The following day, at [...] o'clock, the children of [...] went to the church [...] where they [...] assembled in the church. The priests (about thirty) [...] arrived [...] and took part in the singing. [...] Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Father [De la Croix], assisted by Fathers [...] and [...], as deacon and subdeacon respectively. After the Gospel a [...] sermon, in French, was delivered by [...], and at the close an address [...] was delivered [...] by Very Rev. Father [...].

During the ceremony our choir was ably assisted by several of the Fathers who took part in the singing.

The whole concluded with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Thus passed one of the most impressive ceremonies it has ever been our lot to witness in Baton Rouge, the like [...] in our parish, long to be remembered.

Laus Deo! for is not this outburst of love on the part of our Catholic population, this gathering together of the priests, servants of our Divine Lord, to celebrate, as it were, the silver wedding of one of their number, paid to him in his character of priest, and through him to his Divine Master. Surely honor conferred upon the good and faithful servant must redound to the greater glory of the Master.

Our little city presents rather a dull appearance, just now, in a business point of view. In a political one it may be a little livelier, some patriot occasionally breaking forth with, "Vote for O—, and save the country!" but between the two [parties] I fear the country is rather ill, in very truth, the people are sick and very sick indeed, and unless we can reform [...] there is little prospect of reform in the country.

The crop prospects are very good here. Let us hope that the corn, etc., to be used here, is at present growing in our own fields, and not in those of the far distant West, so that every Southern farmer may be able to say, "What I eat and consume I produce, the surplus I will sell," and not, as in the past, be compelled to sell the products of his farm in order to buy the necessaries of life. For this let us [labor].