|
the Annunciation Church, Williamsport, Pa. He remained there twenty-seven years, during which time he erected a parochial residence, free school, convent, and church and purchased a beautiful site for a cemetery. No one could wish for a more loyal, devoted or generous people. In the spring of 1898, he was asked by Bishop Hoban to accept the Vicar Generalship of the Scranton Diocese, and take charge of St. John's congregation, Pittston, Pa., the largest in the diocese.
During his two and a half years residence in Pittston he made the large schools of the parish free for all the children, grading them from the lowest room in the parochial building to the highest in the academy. The schools took on new life and the people responded generously. During his incumbency in Pittston, a nice church was erected at Inkerman and one at Wyoming, both of which have pastors. In August, 1901, he received a letter from the Apostolic Delegate, Washington, informing him of his appointment to the See of Altoona. He was consecrated in the Scranton Cathedral, Sunday, the 8th of September, the same year. His first Pontifical Mass was sung in Pittston, the second in Williamsport, in which lovely city he spent, probably, the happiest years of his life. Without seeking publicity he has done all that lay in his power, to build up and strengthen Catholicity in the Altoona Diocese.
The foregoing was the modest biographical sketch of the life of the late bishop, which was published by the writer in "History of St. Bartholomew's Parish," in 1909. Since that time, his present biographer in recording events of local history has become acquainted with facts concerning his unbounded love for the common people and especially the orphans of his diocese.
The want of an orphan asylum in the eastern portion of the Pittsburgh diocese had long been felt before the Diocese of Altoona was established. On account of the crowded condition of St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, contiguous to Pittsburgh, it was almost impossible to get admission for orphans from the eastern portion of that diocese. The remoteness of that asylum from the eastern counties of the diocese was another drawback. To supply this long-felt want, Bishop Garvey early applied all his energies, and the result was the building at Summit, Cambria County, of St. John's Home, the good bishop subscribing of his limited means $1,000 towards aiding this project and subsequently
|
