On January 29, 1921, Father Charles Joseph Powers, CSP, died in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 60 after 37 years in Paulist ministry. Born in New York on July 28, 1860, he attended St. Francis Xavier College and became close friends with Paulist Father Augustine Hewit. After graduation he entered the Paulists, and "made almost his entire theological course under Father Hewit." He was professed on February 1, 1884, and was ordained on June 3, 1884.
After ordination, Father Powers taught at St. Thomas College in Washington, DC, and later joined Father Henry Harrison Wyman on the staff at Old St. Mary's church in San Francisco. His primary service, however, was as curate at the mother house in New York, where he spent 35 of his 37 years as a Paulist.
A stickler for liturgical detail as church sacristan, he monitored the services and decoration at the church of St. Paul the Apostle, and "frequently represented the Paulist Fathers at the theological conferences of the priests of the archdiocese where he took part in the discussions of dogmas and morals." He also succeeded Father Charles Casserly as director of the parochial and Sunday schools, and served briefly as acting Superior General after the death of John J. Hughes in 1919.
Illness forced him to resign as headmaster of the parish school in the spring of 1920, and he died at a New Jersey sanitarium in early 1921.
An early Paulist and friend of Fr. Hewit, Father Powers was greatly mourned by the New York Catholic community. His eulogist Father Walter Elliott remembered his "work in the priesthood, his instruction of converts, his long hours in the confessional, his visits to the sick, his care for educational and moral welfare of children, and his love for the holy sanctuary, where he spent so much of his time." In his own way, he too was a martyr, "one who had suffered through long years with humility and patience."
NB: Even though Fr. Powers' middle name is "James" on his grave, the official community register states that his middle name was "Joseph."
After ordination, Father Powers taught at St. Thomas College in Washington, DC, and later joined Father Henry Harrison Wyman on the staff at Old St. Mary's church in San Francisco. His primary service, however, was as curate at the mother house in New York, where he spent 35 of his 37 years as a Paulist.
A stickler for liturgical detail as church sacristan, he monitored the services and decoration at the church of St. Paul the Apostle, and "frequently represented the Paulist Fathers at the theological conferences of the priests of the archdiocese where he took part in the discussions of dogmas and morals." He also succeeded Father Charles Casserly as director of the parochial and Sunday schools, and served briefly as acting Superior General after the death of John J. Hughes in 1919.
Illness forced him to resign as headmaster of the parish school in the spring of 1920, and he died at a New Jersey sanitarium in early 1921.
An early Paulist and friend of Fr. Hewit, Father Powers was greatly mourned by the New York Catholic community. His eulogist Father Walter Elliott remembered his "work in the priesthood, his instruction of converts, his long hours in the confessional, his visits to the sick, his care for educational and moral welfare of children, and his love for the holy sanctuary, where he spent so much of his time." In his own way, he too was a martyr, "one who had suffered through long years with humility and patience."
NB: Even though Fr. Powers' middle name is "James" on his grave, the official community register states that his middle name was "Joseph."
On January 29, 1921, Father Charles Joseph Powers, CSP, died in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 60 after 37 years in Paulist ministry. Born in New York on July 28, 1860, he attended St. Francis Xavier College and became close friends with Paulist Father Augustine Hewit. After graduation he entered the Paulists, and "made almost his entire theological course under Father Hewit." He was professed on February 1, 1884, and was ordained on June 3, 1884.
After ordination, Father Powers taught at St. Thomas College in Washington, DC, and later joined Father Henry Harrison Wyman on the staff at Old St. Mary's church in San Francisco. His primary service, however, was as curate at the mother house in New York, where he spent 35 of his 37 years as a Paulist.
A stickler for liturgical detail as church sacristan, he monitored the services and decoration at the church of St. Paul the Apostle, and "frequently represented the Paulist Fathers at the theological conferences of the priests of the archdiocese where he took part in the discussions of dogmas and morals." He also succeeded Father Charles Casserly as director of the parochial and Sunday schools, and served briefly as acting Superior General after the death of John J. Hughes in 1919.
Illness forced him to resign as headmaster of the parish school in the spring of 1920, and he died at a New Jersey sanitarium in early 1921.
An early Paulist and friend of Fr. Hewit, Father Powers was greatly mourned by the New York Catholic community. His eulogist Father Walter Elliott remembered his "work in the priesthood, his instruction of converts, his long hours in the confessional, his visits to the sick, his care for educational and moral welfare of children, and his love for the holy sanctuary, where he spent so much of his time." In his own way, he too was a martyr, "one who had suffered through long years with humility and patience."
NB: Even though Fr. Powers' middle name is "James" on his grave, the official community register states that his middle name was "Joseph."
After ordination, Father Powers taught at St. Thomas College in Washington, DC, and later joined Father Henry Harrison Wyman on the staff at Old St. Mary's church in San Francisco. His primary service, however, was as curate at the mother house in New York, where he spent 35 of his 37 years as a Paulist.
A stickler for liturgical detail as church sacristan, he monitored the services and decoration at the church of St. Paul the Apostle, and "frequently represented the Paulist Fathers at the theological conferences of the priests of the archdiocese where he took part in the discussions of dogmas and morals." He also succeeded Father Charles Casserly as director of the parochial and Sunday schools, and served briefly as acting Superior General after the death of John J. Hughes in 1919.
Illness forced him to resign as headmaster of the parish school in the spring of 1920, and he died at a New Jersey sanitarium in early 1921.
An early Paulist and friend of Fr. Hewit, Father Powers was greatly mourned by the New York Catholic community. His eulogist Father Walter Elliott remembered his "work in the priesthood, his instruction of converts, his long hours in the confessional, his visits to the sick, his care for educational and moral welfare of children, and his love for the holy sanctuary, where he spent so much of his time." In his own way, he too was a martyr, "one who had suffered through long years with humility and patience."
NB: Even though Fr. Powers' middle name is "James" on his grave, the official community register states that his middle name was "Joseph."
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