THE REV. FATHER WILLIAM FRANCIS ELLIS.

Sacramento County

Biographies

THE REV. FATHER WILLIAM FRANCIS ELLIS.

THE REV. FATHER WILLIAM FRANCIS ELLIS. – True to her tradition, to hold in sacred memory all who materially aided in the foundation and development of the great Golden State, California will never cease to honor the late Rev. Father William Francis Ellis, the faithful founder and beloved pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church, at Sacramento, who died on September 6, 1922. He was born in Ireland on July 24, 1881, and after passing through the elementary schools there, he pursued higher studies at St. Mel’s Diocesan College, and at Mount Mellary, conducted by the Cistercian Fathers. Having completed the intermediate course in letters, he then repaired to All-Hallows’ College, Dublin, to pursue his philosophical and theological studies in preparation for becoming a missionary priest; and it was while he remained there for five years that he chose the Sacramento diocese as the field of his ministry, and his services were received by the late Bishop of Sacramento, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Grace, D.D. From All Hallows’, he went to the Collegio Irlandese, a constituent college of the Propaganda University at Rome; and at that noted institution of ecclesiastical learning, he completed his course for the priesthood, under the tutorship of the distinguished Mgr. O’Riordan, and was ordained to that office in the Lateran Basilica on May 28, 1904.

After a pleasant sojourn in the paternal home, Father Ellis left the family circle and bade good-bye to his native land, setting out for America and California. He reached Sacramento in due time, and on arriving at the bishop’s house, he was assigned at once to a curacy at Eureka, under Mgr. L. Kennedy, V.G. He worked there to the entire satisfaction of his superiors and the people until November, 1909, when he was commissioned to form the new parish of the Immaculate Conception in the southeastern portion of Sacramento; and how well he succeeded, the condition of the young parish at his death indicates. Ground was purchased at once to take care of future needs of the parish. A temporary church set up there was in 1916 replaced by a handsome structure that cares for four or five large congregations each Sunday, and at other special times; and provision was made for a house for the use of the parochial clergy, together with a spacious hall. During his pastorate, Bishop Grace attached Elk Grove territory to his parish; and while attending to the spiritual needs of his people there, Father Ellis built, on a half-block centrally situated, one of the handsomest country churches to be seen anywhere, and called it St. Joseph’s.

All this work of a material character he prosecuted with vigor; yet while it was in progress, he kept the best that was in him for the more spiritual things of life. Social by nature, and a lover of manly sports, there were to be found almost hourly at his house those who were also interested in providing healthful recreation in the open for the citizenship at large, and the officers of various fraternal and beneficial organizations of Sacramento, as well as from other parts of the state. At the state conventions of those bodies, Father Ellis was no stranger; and he always took a leading part in the debates. He possessed a keen mind and a buoyancy of spirit that imparted itself quickly to his friends and acquaintances; he carried with him a joyous spirit wherever he went, and he had a humorous illustration for well-nigh every circumstance he encountered – a peculiar gift and a characteristic that contributed to putting him at ease with the stranger, and to render him exceptionally popular with those not of the same household of faith. In the pulpit and on the platform, his wit was instantaneous; and conversely, amid the sadder aspects of life that confront a priest’s ministry, every utterance by him breathed of the pathos his heart felt. He had the rare gift of expressing himself both lucidly and tersely, and although of slight frame, he spoke with clearness of tone that easily extended to the entire audience, who listened to him with pleasure and advantage. Somewhat of the same gift flowed through his pen; and at intervals when his official duties permitted, he contributed articles of historical interest to some of the leading magazines of the United States and of Europe.

At the earliest opportunity after coming to the United States, he became an American citizen, and henceforth concerned himself very much about the outcome of nearly every important national, state and civic question that arose and called for discussion and settlement; and much preferring to make an enemy rather than be false to any of his convictions, he left no doubt in anybody’s mind as to how he leaned on the disputed issue. In his deep devotion to American ideals, and in harmony with the general American outlook on life, he was also most actively interested in the turn of national events in his native land; and this was especially true since the Easter week of 1916. He had a thorough grasp of the philosophy and history of the Irish Republican movement, and being a stanch champion of civil and religious liberty, he gave the best that was in him, and all that his meager means could afford, to add new impetus to the movement for an Irish republic like unto the United States, founded upon the proper recognition of human rights, and having personally met the leaders of that stormy period of Irish history, that interest in Erin grew until his death. When, too, America entered the World War, his undivided interest was given in favor of winning those things for which we entered the great conflict. At the opening of the Mather Aviation Field, he became chaplain; and one of the most treasured gifts he had was a loving cup presented him by the corps in appreciation of his work amongst them.

The work, however, that held the central place in his thoughts was the giving to those who might be sick of body, or sick of mind and of heart, a new hope and a new start; and many a business man grew weary of his importunities to give a chance to one who he thought might yet prove successful; and although almost daily busy on just such errands, he seldom failed in his mission. He had the confidence of non-Catholics, as well as of his co-religionists; and his work was rendered more effective by this widespread esteem and good-will from his fellow-citizens generally. His frequent visits to the County Hospital were to him occasions of great interest; and he bestowed infinite pains on meeting the various demands made upon him, whether by day or by night, by his charges, so many of whom found in him their one ray of hope.

Being of an unselfish character, all thought for himself was given only a secondary place, with the result that he took far less care of a frail physique than most men do. Although failing physically, his mind remained buoyant; and to those who visited his dying bed his conversation was not about his regaining strength, which he had come to regard as hopeless, but about the joys and sorrows, and the daily vicissitudes of life that interest the majority of people. Before his many friends, therefore, could hardly realize that such a calamity was possible, he breathed his last, September 6, 1922, at the Sisters’ Hospital, in Sacramento. His funeral was held on Monday, September 11, from the Immaculate Conception Church, which he had founded; and now his frail body lies in the hallowed clergy plot of St. Joseph’s Cemetery. The funeral cortege included Bishop Keane and about a hundred clergymen from different sections of California, as well as representatives from the different organizations of both Sacramento and San Francisco in which he had so interested himself. The various municipal and civic bodies, too, of Sacramento and Sacramento County, regardless of religious bias, also had their representatives there.

Reverend Father Ellis left, to mourn his loss in his own family. four brothers – like himself, all manly men. One is the Rev. John H. Ellis, who has since taken his brother’s post at the Immaculate Conception Church; another brother, James P. Ellis, resides in New York; while the Rev. Thomas H. Ellis and Dr. Vincent C. Ellis are both citizens of free Ireland.

Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 3/20/07.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 500-503. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.