Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-23
COLoRED CATHOLICS.
Archbishop Jnnssens on Churches
for Their Exclusive Use.

Sunday In New Orleans the first church
exclusively for the use Of the colored
Catholics Of that city was opened and de-
dicated.
Archbishop Janssens was present. and
made an address, ana, among other things.
said
You all belong to God. because He
created you. and His breath has given life
To your souls and you will all have TO
return TO Him TO be judged according TO
your mode of life while I'm this world.
Therefore you must love Him above all
things, and your acts must stand to His
glory: and you must put aside the plea
sures and the vanities and the allurements
OF this world. because you belong to God.
We are All equal before God. The Church
is one general. immense brotherhood. and
should not know any distinction between
its members.
PECULIAR CONDITIONS.
1T is not intended I'm opening and
dedicating this church 20 convey the
idea that there IL a religion for the
white people and one for the colored
people. Mother Church accepts them all
as her common children, because every
one stands on the same footing before
the judgment seat OF God. Yet. on ac-
count Of the peculiar conditions that exist
in the South. it is almost impossible for
white and black 20 mnGle together and
freely assist at religious services in the
same edifce. Therefore, seven years ago
! began 10 think over this Vexed problem.
and when the subject OF a church cxclu-
sively for the colored race was preached
| met with great opposition from the col
ored people themselves They thought
that J was not their friend. and that I
wanted to cast .hem aside because of
their color and previous condition. Now,
my dear brethren, It is seven years since
/ have taken charge Of this diocese, and
j must say that / met immense RESPONSE
biitics. chief among which was the re-
sponsibility for the souls Of the 1900 col
ored people IN my archiepiscopal jurlsdic-
ton. Yes, my brethren, out Of $4,000
Catholics more than one fourth belong 10
the colored race. and. looking up the
statistics OF colored Catholicity in the
United States, | found that two thirds Of
them were here In the see of New Or
leans.
REALIZED HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
When / was appointed Archbishop,
saw and realized my responsibilities for
the souls Of those people. / knew that /
had 10 give account TO the Lord for this,
and prayed 10 Him for help in solving
the complicated and difficult question.
Happily, the opposition has been removed
by my earnest talk to these colored
people, who were labOring under the
mistaken idea that intended to dscrim-
nate against them by opening this new
church. ] was highly gratihed a few days
ago when a colored woman wrote me
a letter which proved ray of consO-
lation TO me. She said in her letter that
she prayed God would bless the colored
church. and make IL a success, and she
thanked God on her knees that | had
undertaken this, in spite of many difficult
ties. and she felt sure that IT would be
crowned with successful glory
Here In this church the colored people
will be at home. II is a church for their
own special benefit and occupation. IL
Is for all the cOlored people of New Or
leans, but none Of them are compelled to
come here. II they prefer to remain in
their own parish they are at liberty 10 do
SO. but ] want to say that ST. Katherine's
church is for them at all times, If they
want their children to make their first
communion. or IL they desire TO attend
mass or services. or go to confession
or get married, and have their children
baptized here"