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History of St. Augustine

68 History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.

 

consult with Bishop O'Connor in relation to his project, the latter induced him to locate his monastery at Latrobe on land belonging to the diocese known as Sportsman's Hall, which he gave to the order for that purpose; and thus was established what is now the Archabbey of St. Vincent, which while a bitter disappointment to Father Lemke, situated as it is along the main line of the Pennsylvania-Railroad, near Beatty's Station, is a far better location for this institution than Carrolltown can ever be.

     After this, Father Lemke sold his property near Carrolltown to the Benedictines, and was for a time located in the Diocese of Philadelphia, returning to Carrolltown on a visit in 1849, when he resolved to become a Benedictine, which he did February 2, 1852; and going soon afterwards to Kansas, he suggested to Abbot Wimmer the propriety of establishing a branch of the order in that fertile State, and the Abbey of Atchison is the result.

     Father Lemke returned to St. Vincent's Abbey about the beginning of the year 1859, in the latter part of which year he went to Europe to collect money for the monastery and to attend to some business matters of his own. During his sojourn in Europe he collected 6,000 florins ($1,160) and wrote a "Life of Dr. Gallitzin." In 1860, he returned to America and was assigned to the Diocese of Newark, N. J., and given a congregation at Elizabeth. In 1876, at Elizabeth, he celebrated his "golden jubilee" as a priest. In 1876 he returned to St. Benedict's Monastery, Carrolltown. He died in 1882 amongst his old parishioners and the members of his order, and his last resting place in a lot set aside for the Benedictine Fathers is marked by a beautiful monument; but the record of his great deeds is the most enduring monument to the memory of this great and good man.

Father A. P. Gibbs, 1844-46.

     Andrew Patrick Gibbs was born in Queens County, Ireland, in 1815. He was educated for the priesthood in St. Charles Borromeo's Seminary, Philadelphia, and was ordained a priest on September 20, 1840, by Bishop Kenrick, of Philadelphia. From 1844 until 1846, he attended St. Aloysius', Summit; St. Bartholomew's, Jefferson, and St. John Gaulbert's, Johnstown. For thirty-one years prior to his death he was pastor of St. Mary's Church, Lawrence-


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