The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-07-25

Ths Prezipsegs 49, Rrzas,4s lf4sasxs I've
This vssi6yisnasso Ia The CREST Inissi0nary,s
former gravain the island OF Sancian, which
has been undestaken annuaily for some
years past by efaithfuI Of Canton Macao, \
placs On the 2lth Of April. The ialand Of
Eancian 40 20 called by the Portuguese, by
the Enalish it is known ~ Sc. John, while
the Chinese meme Il Ganahan, OF which tho
others are oorruptsons; Il is ninety ,nye
milcs southwest Of Hongkong. The
steazaer White Cloud Was chartered for the
occasion, amd abe carried Mgr. Guillemin,
Bfshop of Canton, Chief Justice SmAie,
several priests and Sisters OF Charity and
about $50 Europeans ara iUO chinese. IL
is well known that St. Francis Xavier, being |
ON board Portuguese ship, anchored in the
harbor 81 Sam Shan, was taken very Ill, |
and at his own request removed on shore, |
where, after remaining q. Few days IN q
miserable hut, he expired on the tnlrd OF |
December 1852, and was buried by his
friends on q hill quite near to the anchorage; |
A cross was raised over the grave, and
about hundred years after this o Few
Jesuits, who, on their way to CHINA,
touched at San-Shan, raised Q stone net TO ms
chapel is said to have also been erected on
the spot. bat few years ago no trace OF
this latter was to be discovered, although
the stone is still in existence, and has been
set in the flooring of the new chapel,
directly in front of the altar. A few years
after the death of the saint, his remains
| were removed to Goa. In 1884, some
effort was made to raise funds for the cree
1 ton of q new chapel on the foundations OF
the old, but for some reason the project ien
through, and it is believed Up to within
only a few years since the spot has attract,
ed little or no attention. The idea OF
erecting q chapel upon this spot was again
revived about two years ago, and the
pilgrimage of the present year, (more than
after his deathl
rendered memorable by the final completion
I of this work, its conservation on Sunday,
the 25th, and the establishment OF Ca
tholic mission on the island Besides the
chapel erected upon the site OF the former
| grave, a large and commodious mission
house has been built at a distance OF about
half a mile, and near to small hshlng
village, where it is intended the missionary
in charge of the mission shall reside. At
six on Sunday morning, the 18th OF Aprli,
the general move on shore began, and at a
quarter past seven the solemn ceremonies of
conservation were commenced in the chapel,
by the Bishop of Canton. A sermon was
preached by Father Rodina, s. j., in which
he briefly reviewed the life and eminent
works of the saint, as also the history OF
the efforts made to mark, with fitting
tribute to his memory, the scene of his last
hours and of@his first interment, from the
erection Of the first tablet down TO the
} copmletion of the present chapel. Ihls
having been cOncluOSu, u CcIOAsoHJ Va -
nsculiarly interesting nature took place;
, which illustrated In n sErking man.4~-
, gc.,.s, feeling which exists De1" the
, S;llasers~ and those connected with the
mission. The villagers to the number OF
, fifty came marching down to the beach,
headed by the usual unharmonious Chinese
!, rnnaie- and bearing with them, upon tables,
four Large g;. roasted Pig. TBsss were blessed
: pieces and distributed TO the poor of the
! village After o stroll over the beautiful
Q green hills, the party again embarked in
( Struggling groups, and by four o'clock or
!; Sunday afternoon the White Cloud was
!, steaming ont of the harbOr of San-Shan
Q bound for Maeoa, which was reached at 6
J few minutes before eleven. Ghe chapel o
: St. Francis Xavier is n very neat nnt
! substantial building Of brick. 1t is cruel
ed form in shape, of plain but prett!
% design, and stands upon an artificial base
d dug out of the brow of the hill, about NIT.
1t feet above the beach. Over the vestibul
y rises well-proportioned steeple OF aDoa
- seventy feet in height. There is htti
q. attempt at decoration inside, with the ex
ID eeptien of the altar, which was manufac
he tured in Hongkopg, and taken down IN th
II steamer. 1t is made of teak, decorate
ct with blue and gold. The mission house
~ which is about half o mile distant, is NOR
Ve Oriental in its appearance, q broad bullGn
y with two wings and dome over the cent?
~ vestibule. The centre building is arrange
for a chapel, and the wings will be used 6
20 school-rooms for the pupils.
~ TTn