The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-30

and superb appointments generally. With
the opening Of the grand church the won
derfni werks established by the Jesuits be-
gan to manifest themselves.
Shortly after the church was finished a
noted ecclesiastic from Rome paid this
thought of the Church of the Holy Family:
He shrugged HE shoulders, smiled, and
then said that it was q grand church, a
beautiful church, bat he added, with an ex.
preston of cOmicsl sorrow, "there are no
people to attend it," and yet, two years
the structure to accommodate it's congrega-
ton.
Through the instrumentality of "mis-
sions," assiduous preaching, the Organiza-
ton of "sOdalities,S confraternites, and
benevolent associations, the zeal and tai
ents of every Catholic in the parish W as,
80 to say, utilized. OF course Father Da-
wants of the distrct-this is always a
Jesuit's first thought-and he had also
procured the introduction of branch of
the order of the Ladies' Of the Sacred
Heart" The lamented Nine. Galway was
the foundress, aud for many years the local
superior of the order in this city. Nine.
Galway was finally persuaded by Father
Damen to permantiy locate the convent of
the Sacred Heart on West Taylor street,
the present situation, and here, after frst
opening a school for day scholars and
boarders, a free school for the girls Of the
parish was provided by the personal efforts
of Nine. Galway, and opened in 1865. The
school now contains upwards of 800 girls.
But his greatest effort in the educational
line is no doubt the founding of St. 1gna-
tins college, magnificent enterprise.
formally opened in 1874, and from that
time to the present its march has been
steadily onwatd.
Besides the regular staff of priests attach
ed 60 the church, the services of the reverend
fathers of the college are constantly in re-
QUESTION for confessions, sermons, SC.
Then, too, at Christmas and Easter, as
we'll as during the summer vacation, the
bands of missionaries under the leadership
of Father Damon return To rest from mis-
sionary duty but they find active work
here at home during the recess, giving
"retreate," aiding the secular priests in
preaching, confessions, &c.
Father Damen is a man of imposing
presence, with kindly face, but one full
of character. AS an orator he has few
equals in the country, and as q man of pow
er with the people, power secured by the
display of many endeariBg qualities-he
land, Protestant as we'll as Catholic. He
never speaks anywhere but the church or
ball where he holds forth is too small to
contain the people who desire to hear him,
and his voice is sufficiently powerful to
fill the largest edifice. In fact, one might
say that he has built the Church of the
Holy Family entirely for himself, for he
alone can preach from the pulpit where it
belongs, and be heard iu all parts of the
house. veIybody else has the pulpit
trundled to near the centre ofthe editice be-
fore they undertake to address the vast
congregations that almost daily throng this
church, for the territory tributary to it
contains no less than a Catholic population
of $1,000 souls. AT present, Father Damen
is engaged ia a mission in Brooklyn, asd
one might say that his services are we'll
timed there.
Although the frosts of 90 winters have
whitened the thin hair of Father Damen,
his spirit is still active as in youth, and
he may yet live to see many new schemes
brought to fruition. Among other institu-
tions, he hopes at no distant day to erect an
old peoples home. hume for bootblacks,
and hospital. Uutil the establishment of
the college, he was the superior of the Jes-
uits in this city, but by the rules of the
order, the pres deats of colleges take pre-
cedence. Long may Father Damen live
on earth aud in the hearts of his people.