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 SAN ANTONIO

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SAN ANTONIO

this edifice still stands and serves as the sanctuary of the present Cathedral of San Fernando.

The Province of Texas was subject to the juris- diction of Guadalajara till December, 1777, when it became part of the newly-erected Diocese of Nuevo Le6n, or Linares. The Indian missions continued under the care of the P'ranciscans, many of whom won the crown of martyrdom. In 1777 Fray Pedro Ramirez, missionary at San Jose, was president of all the Texas missions, and by an Indult of Clement XIV was empowered to administer confirmation in all parts of Texas. On 10 April, 1794, Don Pedro de Nava, commandant-general of the north-eastern interior provinces, of which Texas formed a part, published a decree by which all the missions within his jurisdiction were secularized. Nevertheless the

The Alamo, Chapel of the Mission- of San .Vnto.vio de Valero, Texas

Franciscans in many instances remained as pastors, though they received their jurisdiction from the bishop, like other parish priests. Their missions subsisted in a flourishing state till about lcS13, when they were 8U{)pr(>ss('d by the Spanish Gov(>rnment, and the In- dians disf)er.sed. In 1839 Gregory XVI established a prefecture Apostolic in Texas and appointed the Very Rev. J. Tinioii prefect Apostolic. In 1840 the Rev. John M. Odin visited Texas as vice-prefect Apostolic. Through his efforts, warmly supported by the minister of France, de Saligny, the congress confirmed to "the Chief Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church in the Republic of Texas" the churches of San Fernando, the Alamo (San Antonio de Valero), La Purlsima Concepci6n, San Jose, San Juan Capis- trano, San Francisco de la Espada, Goliad, Victoria, and Rufugio, with their grounds, the latter not to exceed fifteen acres each.

A Bull erecting the Republic of Texas into a vica- riate Apostolic was published bv Gregorv XVI on 10 July, 1841, and the Right Rev. John M. Odin was ap- pointed Bishop of Claudiopolis and assigned to the vicariate. Religion, which had langui-shed since the secularization of the missions and the departure of the Franciscan monks, now began to revive. New churches were built, and some of the old mission build- ings restored; religious orders of men and women were introduced from Europe; schools, hospitals, and chari- table institutions were established. Colonists from Europe and various parts of the United States began to pour in and settle upon the wide and fertile plains of eastern and southern Texas. A large proportion of the European immigrants were Catholics. Ger- mans founded prosperous .settlements at New Braun- fels in 1844, at Castroville in 184.5, and later at D'Ha- nis, Fredericksburg, High Hill, and other places. A colony of Poles, led by the Rev. Leopold Moczygemba, O.F.M., founded the thriving settlement of Panna

Maria in 1854; another Polish colony was established at St. Hedwig, near San Antonio. Bohemians planted flourishing settlements at Fayetteville, Praha, Moul- ton, Shiner, and other points. In all these places there are now fine churches and schools, and an influ- ential and constantly increasing Catholic population.

In 1847 the Diocese of Galveston was established, its territory embracing the whole State of Texas. On 3 September, 1874, this immense territory was divided, ecclesiastically, and the Diocese of San Antonio was created by the Holy See. Anthony Dominic Pellicer, the first bishop, was a native of St. Augustine, Florida; b. 7 Dec, 1824, consecrated at Mobile, Alabama, 8 Dec, 1874; d. 14 April, 1880. John Claudius Ncraz, second bishop, was b. 12 Jan., 1828, at Anse, Depart- ment of the Rhone, France; he laboured for thirty years on the missions in eastern and southern Texas, was consecrated in the Cathedral of San Fernando, San Antonio, 8 May, 1881, and d. 15 Nov., 1894. John Anthom^ Forest, third bishop, was b. 25 Decem- ber, 1838, at St. Martin, Canton St. Germain, France. Like his predecessor, he spent the whole of his priestly life in arduous missionary work in southern Texas, often helping to build churches with his own hands. He was consecrated 28 October, 1895, and d. 11 March, 1911, deeply loved and regretted by all classes. John William Shaw, the present Ijjsliop, was b. at Mobile, .\labama, in 18(')3, made liis principal studies in Ireland and at Rome, and was ordiiiiied priest on 2G May, 1888. On 14 April, 1910, in the cathedral at Mobile, Alabama, he wascon.secrated titular Bishop of Castabala and coadjutor with the right of succession to the Bishop of San Antonio. On 18 May, 1910, he was apjiointed administrator of the diocese, owing to tlu! ill-health of Bishop Forest, at whose death he succeeded to the see.

San Antonio is the largest city in Texas; it was the capital of the Spanish province and from the days of the Franciscan missions has been a centre of Catholic activitv in religious, educational, and charitable work. With II population of 100,000, it has thirteen Cath- olic parishes. Four of these, including the Cathe- dral of San Fernando, are for the INIexican, or Spanish-.sj)eaking population; two are for the English- speaking; two English and German, one German, one Poli.sh, one Flemish, and two for the coloured popula- tion. There are also several hundred Italian families, scattered among the various parishes. The city is the headquarters of several religious congregations whose works extend to neighbouring dioceses and states, and to the Republic of Mexico. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who since their introduction by Bishop Odin in 1849 have laboured with glorious results among the poor Mexicans of Texas, have their provincial house here, and conduct a theological semi- nary and an apostolic college for the training of youth for the priesthood. The South-western Province of the Oblates was established in October, 1904, with the Very Rev. H. A. Constantineau, O.M.I., D.D., as first provincial. The province includes all the states of the .south and west, and the Republic of Mexico. The Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Provi- dence, devoted exclusively to Christian education, have their mother-house in San Antonio, from which they direct twenty-nine academies and schools in this diocese and forty-three in neighbouring dioceses in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The Congrega- tion of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word also have their mother-house in the city. They con- duct in the diocese twenty schools and academies, three hospitals, two orphan asylums, and a home for the aged. They have also a number of hospitals and schools in neighlaouring dioceses and in Mexico.

Other religious orders represented arc : Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Vich, Spain), who have charge of the cathedral and the other Span- ish-speaking congregations at San Antonio and a