St Anthony of Padua High School - Paduan Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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REV. E. J. WILBEE

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 £ ur rcfjtnsfjop Thou earnest to us in our hour of grief When clouds had closed the sun quite out our sky. Our leader great lay dead; no help seemed nigh: None spoke a word of hope however brief. And ev'ry heart was stricken as a leaf When tempests sweep the earth and rage on high. Each word, a moan, and ev'ry breath, a sigh And none knew where to turn to seek relief. Then thou didst come and all our world grew bright: And ev'ry heart grew glad with holy joy. Thy Christ-like kindness soon dispelled our night. Thy gracious presence did all fear destroy. All felt that thou would'st guide our steps aright. Our cares we cast on thee—nor fear annoy.

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1901 (Pur pastor 1926 REV. FATHER WILBEE was bom in Hamilton. Ontario. Canada. July • 14. 1875. son of Frederic and Mary (O'Neil) Wilbee. In their family were seven children of whom Father Wilbee is the sixth in the order of birth. He attended the parochial schools of Hamilton, and of St. Jerome’s College at Berlin (now Kitchener). Canada. In the fall of 1898 he entered the St. Paul Seminary. St. Paul, and was ordained November 7. 1901. He began his pastoral work at St. Mary's Church. St. Paul, as assistant to Father Gibbons. He remained there two years and was then appointed secretary to Archbishop John Ireland, which difficult position he filled w'ith distinction for eight years. He then received the pastorate of St. Lawrence Church. Minneapolis. Here, in addition to his parish work he was the spiritual director of the Catholic students of the University of Minnesota. After four years of faithful service here, he was promoted to the irremovable rectorship of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. Minneapolis. Under his able leadership this parish has not only maintained its unique record among the parishes of the Northwest, but continues to progress yearly. The present school building was completed during his first years at St. Anthony, and the beautiful pastoral residence was built four years ago. He has improved and embellished the parish property until it is now the pride of the Northeast, and. in appearance, is excelled by none in the city of Minneapolis. His constant care and untiring zeal in the cause of Catholic education has brought the school, both in the grade and in the high school departments, to the highest point of efficiency. Two years ago the high school, for the first time in its long history, was accredited to the University of Minnesota, thus taking its rightful place with the best in the state in equipment and in accomplishment. The Church of St. Anthony of Padua, the oldest church in the city, and from which many hundreds have migrated to other parts of the city, has been called The Mother Church of Minneapolis. During the years of Father Wil-bee’s pastorship it has continued to send its quota of sterling Catholics to help build new parishes throughout the city. These Catholics are an evidence of the high standard of spirituality which has ever marked the Catholicity of the Northeast —a spirituality which continues to grow and expand among the devout people of St. Anthony parish under the fostering zeal and devotion of their beloved pastor. It is a very special joy. this year, to the good people of the parish, that to them falls the honor of celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Father Wil-bee’s ordination to the holy priesthood, and it is their most earnest prayer that Divine Providence may long spare him to carry on among them his most zealous and truly pious apostolate. Page Sevtn