Item 1617 - Fr Edward MacCarthy SJ

Born: 06 July 1794, County Cork
Entered: 05 December 1817, Richmond , Virginia, USA - Marylandiae Mission (MAR)
Ordained:
Final Vows: 18 December 1834
Died: 13 February 1842, White Marsh, MD, USA - Marylandiae Province (MAR)

◆ Woodstock Letters SJ : Vol 3, Number 2

“St Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia” p 97

In the early part of 1834, Father Edward Me Carthy was sent as an assistant to Father Dubuisson. His first baptism was that of a female infant, at the present day, a zealous member of St. Joseph's, and not long since Prefect of the Young Ladies' Branch of the Sodality of our Holy Mother. My earliest impressions of Father Me Carthy, who was, I think, the first Jesuit I ever saw, were not of a very pleasing nature. In the Autumn of this year, one bright Sunday morning, I had been dressed to accompany a sister to late Mass. Becoming impatient at the delay occasioned by the young lady's putting the finishing touches to her dressing, with the independence of “Young America”, I started by myself - to her no small fright when she missed me. Passing up the quadrangle, I saw at one of the windows a jovial red face. With infantile impertinence I stood to stare at the vision of manly beauty. “Do you come to Sunday School?” said a deep voice. “No, sir”; answered I, in a penny-trumpet squeal. “Then run home, we don't have young shavers around here that don't come to Sunday School”, responded he, deeply gruff. Like the youthful patriot who broke the pane of glass and then ran home to get the money to pay for it, I turned my face towards the maternal residence, whither I was betaking myself as speedily as my diminutive legs would permit, when I found my frightened sister coming in hasty quest of the· wanderer. She persuaded me to return, and when a short time after I saw the dignified priest and heard his melodious Preface and Pater Noster, I thought it could not be the same man. After Mass I was taken to shake hands with the holy missioner, whe a hearty laugh and a slice of gingerbread removed all unfavorable impressions.

“St Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia” p 109

On the 13th of February, Father Mc Carthy died at Whitemarsh, Md. It is now over thirty years, and still people speak of his labors at Pottsville as well as at St. Joseph's, and of his beautiful singing.