The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-29
DIOCESE or SIN ANTONIO.
S1CCLEsIA6TICAL RETREAT OF THE CLERGY AND
TWO -csKs MISSION AT ST MARYs CHURCH.

TWO -s-sKs MISSION AT ST MARYs CHURCH.
SAN ANTONIO, TEX April 23rd, 1877.
1ditor Morning Star,
NAs IL 10 very seldom there appears any lin
an the columns of Your paper from this cit,
thought I'D trespass little upon your tim
and space for the purpose of plsoIng befor
your readers something that might not prov
very uninteresting to them. inasmuch as /
concerns tho Church and oar most Holy Rel
.gion.
Our most worthy and esteemed Bishop tn
hight Rev. A. d. PelIicsr, having called 81
ecoesiastical retreat of the clergy, wss happy t.
meet, at his residence In this city those goot
and pions priests who came from all parts O
the Diocese, many of whom, owing to it's terri
torial extent, have had to travel hundreds o.
miles to get here. good many were obliged
20 remain ut home, however, to attend to the
spiritual wants Of their children.
The Retreat was opened on the 18th by the
LEV. Father Free, 81, of the Jesuits' College,
New Orleans, who is here ct the instance of
Sne Bishop, and, in connection with this Re-
treat for the purpose also of giving Mission
to the practitioners of St. Mary's Church.
Sunday, tho 18th, was glorious day for tn o
children of st. Msry's, and one that will not
likely be soon forgotten by them. as the Mis-
sion was opened on that day oil 10 O'Clock by a
grand PontifcAl High Mass and sermon by the
distinguished Missionary Father Free.
The procession, which numbered twenty
seven (not including the Bishop or Father
Free) formed, upon this grand occasion, at his
Aordships residence, and at the appointed
hour moved towards the chapel and entering
by the large door in front, proceeded up the
middle aisle to the high altar, with aoolytes in
'front.' bearing the cross and orucifix, the Bishop
with orozier in hand. coming up behind.
The order of the Mass as as follows: Cele-
orant Right Rev. Bishop Pellioer; Assistant
Priest, Very Rev. j. C. Nersz, VIC Dsacons
of Honor, Fathers Beaufaud and Johnston
subj eaoons, Fathers FELTON, and Richard:
Masters of Ceremonies, Fathers Brsohet and
Trauney.
Mercadante's Mass was admirably rendered
upon this occasion by st. Marys choir. To Miss
McAllister, our accomplished organist, the
greatest credit is due for the able manner in
which she conducts this choir Her voioe-a
sopranos rich and sweet, as is also Miss
Johnson's her assistant. Miss Norton, in her
sweet tenor, and Mr. w. McAlister, in his rich
baTytone, make up the principal voices. There
T.
now, remember. In come cotton with this mot.
Ier (pardon the digressioD) it is only proper to
state that it is very short time since this
Young choir was formed by ard under the {
directions of our good Bishop, and now it will i
compare with any other of like mbers in this j
State.
Ohe OF tho Masters of Ceremonies es r
'orteo Rev. Father Free TO the Bishops !
Nhrone, whence, after receiving his Lord. .
'nip's blessing, and having the stole placed l
iPon MS shoulders he aecended the pulpit and J
leiVered sermon the like of which it hns =
eidom been my good fortune to hear. Father
free 10 very impressive and o very able c
'peaker, his language is clear and forcble, and
70 beautifully wrapped up in the grandeur of q
te simplicity that q child could easily under
tand it. t
At The close of the service the Bishop CANA T
Onward to tie altar ratings aud, in his own i
pleasing and happy style, thanked the good p
'eople of tho congregation for having go gen.
rously COT tributed towards the support of his a
able during the Retreat. He also thanked. b
rom the bottom of his heart, those good and I
tous children CT his Diocese who, in the good -
ess OF their hearts, responded 30 cheerfully to p
ne call made upon them in hs pastoral re-. p
ardipg the collection for the Sovereign Pontif.
ius TX. The amount, he said, far exceeded =
is most sanguine hopes He did not believe Il
bat from the poor people of his Diocese land ~
sey are POOR more than $500 would have :.
cen banded in, when to bis great Joy aud /,
'tisfaoton, the collection amounted to the Z
lm of 81 337 90. In connection with THE. !,
owever, 1t 10 but proper TO state that good Il
BAL OF credit is due the Bishop for the manner f
which it WAS conducted. The plan adopted II
as, that committee, consisting of ladies and
eDtlemen, be appointed in each ard eyery in
arish, whose duty il was to visit every Ca he re
family BY this means they were all PEI1
ached-mep, women and children. in
The amount collected will be sent by Rev. pr
Ather A.. GaIdet, V f. of Victoria, who will l.
commissioned, in connection with other ~ n,
'siness, 10 carry it to the feet Of the HOLY Is
'ther IA an Offering Of the poor children of al
is Diocese, together with an album containing g.,
Q names of the contributors. no
The Bishop, at the Close OF the Mission, pur 90
ses Nisitug his Diocese again to see abou, 10 10