The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-16
LETTER FROM CANADA.
ST. GATHERINGS. Canada. August 10, 1874.
To the Editor of tho Morning Star:

| OF. GATHERINGS, Canada August 10, 1874.
To the Editor of the Morning Star:
"Look out for numbsr one is an old saving
and that explains my not complying with your
/ request for letter ere this. For have taken
good care of myself can assure you, since I
| left home on the good steamer "City of Dali
| las" which, by the way, is pleasant ship to
travel on, and is in charge of good, competent
and agreeable officers.
81. GATHERINGS Is quiet, nice town, of about
ten thousand inhabitants, where one in search
OF health may find rest and quietness for few
weeks or months and feel as comfortable as in
any place l know of-unless at home sweet
home" The people, as class, are very So
cable and pleasant, reminding one of the
people of the South. The bank clerks, Cor
ctdrks as they pronounce it here) however,
think themselves in some cases above the Or
binary clerk even merchant. 1t seems
strange to- Que inst from the States, but of
course il is only custom, and as it las no bear
ing on strangers it were hardly necessary for
me to say any thing, but merely mention it as
O kind of custom.
Among the Catholic population there are
some eighty Italians who left their country to
escape the tyranny of Victor Emmanuel and
his co-robbers of that country. They are all
in very poor circumstances but seem trying
hard to make living, and are good, steady,
temperate and Industrious men.
There is resident population of about $500
Catholics accommodated in three churches, the
principal of which is st. GATHERINGS, q good
substantial stone edifce, and st. Joseph's and
st. Mary's, the two latter being sma frame
buildings which are u sed also during the week
as schoolhouscs. st. Joseph's was completed
last week, and was dedicated last Sunday.
Father Lawler of Ontario, preached a good in
structiye sermon on the occasion, Rev. Father
Mulligan celebrating the Mass. Father Multi
gan is in charge of all these churches and also
of churches at Port Dalhousie and at Jordan.
He has only one assistant, Rev. Father Hoban.
The church at Port Dalhousie cost about
Se0OO, and is q neat stone structure, with q
congregation of about 300. The congregation
at Jordan is about of the same strength.
SCHOOLS.
The Catholics here pay their tax to Catholic
schools and in add ton receive from the Gov
eminent their proportion of the school fund,
according to number of children in attendance.
St. GATHERINGS has an attendance of about $50,
the boys under the charge of Carmelite Broth
ers, and the girls under the charge of the Sis
ters of st. Joseph. The good sisters also have
a select school of about sixty, and are having
q new convent building erected, at a cost of
$4,000. 1t is situated beside st. GATHERINGS
church. All the schools are 1ourishing.
Among the associations here are Conference
of the Society of st. Vincent de Paul, Sodali-
ties of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, and
the Children of Mary. The Conference visits
very few families, but when called on, they do
what is in their power to alleviate the suffer
ings of the poor.
To the Rev. Father Mulligan I am under
many obligations for many courtesies extended
to me. Should any of your readers call on him
in making stay here, they will meet with a
pleasant reception from this good, hard work
ing priest. Yours, Jpo.