St Mary of the Mount High School - St Mary Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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and materially and at the time of his death, St. Mary of the Mount was numbered among the largest and most flourishing parishes in the diocese. The school had the largest enrollment of any Catholic school in the diocese. Despite the expenditures for school, convent, rectory, and property botight with a view for further expansion, the parish was completely free from debt when Father Griffin died so unexpectedly. Although Father had been in ill health for about three years, his death, caine as a severe shock to his beloved parishioners. On November 19, 1930, after officiating at the opening of the annual Forty Hours Devotion, Father Griffin was stricken and was unable to take further part in the ceremonies. The last time he offered Mass in his Church was on Siniday, November 30, 1930. Since his condition steadily worsened, an operation was imminent. He was removed from the rectory to St. Joseph ' s Hospital on December fifth, and the operation was performed on Deceinber tenth. For one week after the operation he apparently responded favorably, but on Wednesday of the following week, he suffered a relapse and grew gradually weaker. Death relieved him of his suffering on Sunday, December 21, 1930. Father Misklow, Chaplain of St. Joseph ' s Hospital at the time, administered the last sacraments. Mourned by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Father Griffin, sur- rounded by his grief-stricken flock, was buried from the church he loved so well on Friday, December 26, 1930. Right Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, pontificated at the Solemn Funeral Mass. Reverend William C. Kelty, pastor of St. Philip ' s Church in Crafton and a classmate of Father Griffin, and Reverend John Faughnan, pastor of St. Rosalia ' s Church, were deacons of honor. The assistant priest was Very Rev- erend Monsignor William J. McMullen, Rector of St. PatU ' s Cathedral. Reverend James L. Quinn, pastor of the Chvirch of the Resurrection, Brookline, and Very Reverend S. J. Benson, pastor of St. Mary ' s Church, Freeport, were deacon and sub- deacon respectively. Reverend James Garrahan of St. Paul ' s Cathedral was master of ceremonies. As his body was borne from the Church, not only himdreds of members of the parish who had known and loved him for 27 years, but also throngs of non-Catholic residents of the Mount stood in a cold December rain to pay their last homage and respect to their beloved Father Griffin. The pall bearers were: Robert Philpott, Augtist Btich, Thomas P. Whalen, Franklin P. McQuade, Edward J. Schroth, John B. Sullivan. Burial took place in the priests ' plot of St. Mary ' s Cemetery. 1931 - 1952 From the time of Father Griffin ' s death in December, 1930 luitil July, 1931, Father McCarter, who had succeeded Father McGuigan as curate, acted as adminis-

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Third Avenue and Ferry Street, St. Mary of Mercy became Head(|uarters for the Confraternity and remains as such today. Thotigh no longer director of the Ccnfraternity. Father Griffin remained vitally interested in its work and gave it his loyal support and his loving cooperation. The love and esteem in which Father Griffin was held by all Confraternity workers from their director. Father La less, down to the newest lay recruit teacher vas beautifully expressed by Father La less on the death of Father Griffin. The following account appeared in the Pittsburgh Catholic of December, 1930: Father GrifFin, a noble, priestly character, a man of God, a real friend and booster of our great lay apostolate of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, has breathed his last. Bodily, he is no more. But his deeds and accomplishments will continue to live on. The history of our organization shows that our success in the beginning- was due mostly to the great interest shown by Father GrifFin in the efforts of the few lay workers who volunteered their time for religious instructions in the mining camps. It was in June, 1908, that the first class was opened in Cecil by an individual who little thought that that action was the seed or foundation of the present wonderful and noble Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Several men and women joined in the movement and within a short time a number of classes were being conducted. After this humble start, without direction or authority, God led this small band of lay missionaries to Father Griffin, then Superior of the Pittsburgh Apostolate, in order that every action woidd be under the guidance of Holy Mother Church, through his advice. For some time the only name given to the organization was the Lay Apostolate, but later when the work and accomplishments were brought to the attention of Bishop Canevin by Father Griffin, the work was not only officially approved biU the name of Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was given by Bishop Canevin. Under Father Griffin ' s guidance those first laborers were blessed with a most earnest and zealous spirit: the number of missions increased to aboiu thirty-five, while the number of workers was around seventy at the end of 1916. In all these years the greatest problem to be solved was diat of finances. For soine years, practically the only support of the organization was the money which the few teachers collected and the contributions of the members of St. Mary of the Mount parish, who had formed in bands of ten or more and woidd contribute ten cents or twenty-five cents per month. In 1916 when Bishop Canevin saw fit to appoint a regular director of the organization. Father Griffin never lost sight of the doings of the great diocesan Lay Apostolate. Every year quite a number of lay workers from St. Mary of the Mount Parish are represented in oin- organization doing their share in the mining camps for the cause of Christ. May his soul rest in peace. Of the 42 years of Father Griffin ' s priestly life, 27 of them vere spent at St. Mary of the Mount. Under his ' ise and kindly guidance the parish gre v both spiritually

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. TO TH£ Uv ' ViNO MCMO»Y OF ! ' sister M. EVELYN HART, I. H. M„ bNTIRINO LEADERSHIP IN THE S LE OF WAR BOS,,;, PUPILS OF SAINT MARY OF THE MOUNT SCHOOL, ■iG WORLD WAR II OAINEO NATIONAL RECOCNlTIOlB WE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE ' HIS PLAQUE ] i i 4 -; itMUKL nv.a i f - I ■ ■■V ■ t...:-.. .. t-y- -.-. .i u f i 11 1 11,1 1 H I 1 (.H ' la 1 iiii ( 1 ■ ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii ( I lit ! ! 1 w 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 III 1 . 1 k ILl! L V Ml L 1 lUIIULUl Lll l±V L 1 1 I Ll -- 1 1,1 1 1 u 1 1 1 1 1 na uLi 1 1 1 1 i u li u L ' Ui 1 1 lai 1 1 i ' i 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 11 1 1 1 M 11 ll 1 It ' l 11 lA 1 1 Ull LILV 1 I 1 lu 1 L 1 1 ll I 1 1 V L ' l I uiiijyiSSEB. 1 I ' l 1 1 I U I 1 1 11 ll i 1 1 1 1 111 1 I LL l.(| 1 uLi 1 nil s lU Lt BBpEEP, SEVEN JpHMtS. THIRTY- ;PITAL UNITS GlVl Li U UUi .IM I 11 LL L t 1 1 K t L.I ll t t Ivl iij [ I ( I 1 I , m tf: ' ■??: ■t t SIS :l i ■fflfBHW ■BB Plaque Awarded to School for Outstanding Work in Selling War Bonds Bomber St. Mary of the Mount Purchased bv School Children (Through Sale of War Bonds)