The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-21
THE MORNING STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER SUNDAY

Vincent de Paul, very scantily sustained IL
10 true, but still strong within its limited
sphere. We had, too, q beginning Of some
thing in the Catholic Uaion, but q fatal
paralysis has fallen upon it. There was
also a momentary talk Of q Catholic Clab,
but it amounted only to whisper.
The Temperance movement among our
Catholic population has assumed very
creditable proportions and affords happy
omen of what may be done by we'll directed
efforts, but apart from that and with the
exception above intimated, it cannot well
be claimed that our people are boiling over
with the anxiety to combine together for a
common good. When we attain to the
French standard of Catholicity, which ranks
. man as non-entity in religion unless be
have combined with other Catholics in
something else than merely going to Mass,
then we may expect to emerge from that
torpid state which now renders our popula-
ton 30 Indifferent to organized effort.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART. DONALDSON
| vILLE.-From the Rev. Father Cueppens, pas
| tor of Donaldsonville, we have received an
excellent photograph of the new church which
he proposes building in that fourishing little
town. 1t is to be in the form of cross, $50
feet in length and 81 in width, and will cost
about $50, 900. Already the foundation, which
was commenced last year, has reached level
with the surface, and on the 18th of June the
laying of the first stone will take place. The
Right Rev. w. II. Elder, Bishop of Natohez,
will ohiciate on the occasion, which will be
one of general rejoicing among the people of
the ecclesiastical parish of Donaldsonville.
This church will be the first in the diocese
dedicated to the honor of the Sacred Heart Of
Jesus, as the parish of Donaldson Vile was the
first that was consecrsted to the same Most
Adorable Heart in October, 1873. AS o special
mark of his favor. the Holy Father himself
blessed the cornerstone of the new church,
which, with autograph letter from His
Holiness, has already been received by Father
Cueppens.
The magnitude of the task which the Rev.
Father has assumed would sppall q less Jealous
and self-sacrificing man than Father Cueppens,
for though in a city like this the erection of q
church costing from $4,000 to 100000 would
be the easy work of three four years, it is
quite different thing in a small town of not
more than $500 population, of whom one-half
are colored people. True, the actual congrega.
ton is from 4 900 to 5000, but the limits of
the ecclesiastical parish cover the immense
district along both sides of the river from
Ibervlle to st. James, and both sides of the
Bayou Lsfourche from the Mississippi to AS
sumption, the ordinary parochial duties are
such as to engage the almost undivided atten-
ton of the pastor. The work, however, is ab
solutely necessary, as the old church is already
beginning to fall to pieces, aud this, to the
energetic and jealous priest, is a sufficient
reason why he should push on the work re-
gardless of his own convenience, and trusting
to Providence for the means wherewith to COM
plete it. We wish Father Cueppens every sue
CESS in his great work, and feel assured that
the fine congregation among whom he has
labored for the last FIVE years will give him
such liberal and intelligent assistance as will
enable him to have his new church conseorated
to the service of the Most High in just one half
the ten years which he now thinks it will take
to build it,