Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....Enright, J. A. 1863 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 13, 2008, 4:55 pm Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) REV. J. A. ENRIGHT, one of the most prominent representatives of the Catholic clergy in this section of Pennsylvania, for a number of years has labored among the people of Sullivan county, his efforts proving most effective in the upbuilding of his church. A man of scholarly attainments and great force of character, his services in behalf of Catholicism have been crowned with excellent results and he has won the love of many, both within and without his church. He was born in Allegany, New York, June 7, 1863, and after acquiring his preliminary education in the public schools attended St. Bonaventure's College and Seminary in his native town. That school is conducted by the Franciscan fathers, and is celebrated for its thoroughness and excellence. After eight years of close application to his college duties, in which he gained a broad and general as well as comprehensive theological knowledge, he was ordained to the priesthood, at the age of twenty-four years, by the bishop, the Rt. Rev. William O'Hara, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and in 1888 was appointed curate at Dushore. In a most earnest and zealous manner he entered upon his work there, and his fine attainments as a priest, gentleman and scholar won him many friends, including Protestants as well as Catholics. During the year in which Father Kaier was in Germany for his health, Father Enright had entire charge of the parish and made so many improvements in the church and its surroundings that the appearance of the place was completely changed. For nearly four years he remained in his first charge and was then transferred, in 1892, to St. Patrick's church in Scranton, where he remained for two years. At that time Bernice, Laporte, Lopez and Eaglesmere were erected into a separate parish, and at the earnest request of the people Father Enright was made its rector. He went to Bernice in 1894 to take charge of his parish, at which time there was no Catholic church in which to hold services and no parochial residence. His energy and ability, however, soon worked a wonderful transformation in the condition of affairs. After arranging temporary places of worship, he undertook the task of building a church at Laporte, and the work was successfully accomplished in the dedication at that place of the church of the Sacred Heart, July 4, 1895. It was an occasion of great rejoicing among the people, and Father Enright may well have felt a thrill of pride as he watched the large number of people who assembled to witness the services. Many representative clergymen of the church participated in the ceremonies. High mass was celebrated, and in the afternoon the sacrament of confirmation was administered by the Rt. Rev. Bishop to a class numbering one hundred and twenty-seven. On the completion of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Father Enright immediately began the erection of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the parochial residence at Bernice. With him to attempt a thing is to succeed in the undertaking, and obstacles and difficulties serve but to bring forth the latent strength which carries him steadily forward. The beautiful church of St. Francis was dedicated Sunday, August 2, 1896, by the Rt. Rev. Michael J. Hoban, Bishop of Scranton. The spectacle was a brilliant and imposing one in an ecclesiastical sense and brought together the largest assemblage in the history of Bernice, probably four thousand people gathering to witness the ceremonies of dedication. At half-past ten in the morning the procession of clergy and acolytes passed from the parochial residence, and after prayer was said in the temporary chapel the procession gathered at the corner-stone, which was duly consecrated, and then they passed entirely around the church three times, blessing each corner. Then high mass was celebrated and the Rt. Rev. Bishop, Michael J. Hoban, delivered a most able and eloquent sermon. Vesper services were held in the evening and a large class was confirmed. Special music furnished by the choir rendered the services most beautiful and impressive, and thus the church of St. Francis of Assisi was dedicated to its holy purpose. It stands upon a commanding eminence just outside the village of Mildred, which is really a part of the larger mining town of Bernice; it is one hundred by fifty feet and is built in Gothic style, while its height from the ground to the top of the gilded cross is one hundred and seven feet. Its furnishings are most complete and tasteful and were mostly supplied by various societies of the church and by individual members. The church is in a most flourishing condition, with well organized working societies for the men, the women and the younger members, and is doing a great work in the locality in which it is situated. All is under the guiding hand of Father Enright, who is loved and esteemed by all who know him. His magnetic power, his consecrated life, his kindliness and his uniform courtesy have made him popular with all, and the name of Father Enright is one which everywhere commands respect. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb