The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-06-26
A BRIEF
SKETCH OF
JANSSENS.

Francis Janssens was horn in Til
burg, North Brabant, Holland, on the
18th Of October, 1843, After prelimi-
nary classical studies he entered the
episcopal seminary Of Bois-le = Dnc,
"t'S Hertngenbosch, but, wishing 10
devote himself to the mission IN the
United States sought entrance into
the Americnn College, a: Louvain.
and was ordained priest ut Client on
the 2lst of December, 1867. Bishop
McGill. OF Richmond, had visited the
Institution the preceding year and
depicted the wants Of his diocese 80
r%l"qnently that the young seminarian,
full of courage. offered his services.
He began his labors in the diocese Of
Richmond in September, 1868, and
VAS Don recognized as IA mos, able
and energetic priest, full Of nn,c COS
and prompt at every call. As assist
ant at the cathedral, and from 1870
as rector, attending also Danville,
WarrrntoD, Gordonsville, and Gull
pepper, acting too rs secretary and
chancellor of the diocese, lie endeared
himself to all. In 1874 he was made
vicar-general Of the diocese, aud on
the translation of Bishop Gibbons 70
the see Of Adamramyttum, as coadju
tor Of Baltimore, the Very Rev. MIR.
Jansens became administrators Of the
diocese Of Richmond. When Bishop
keene wac installed in the capital of
Virginia he retained the able priest as
| vicar general Of his diocese and a
tor Of the cathedral. Bishop Clianclie
had been succeeded at Natcilez by the
Right Rev. DR.. Van de Velde. who
was transferred from Chicago, and the
diocese had been afterwards ably
directed by Right Rev. William H.
Elder for many years but his APP
pnintinent as coadjntur to the vener-
able Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinna-
Il, left the see Of NatclieZ vacant The
Very Rev. Francis Jansens was
selected for the position, aud lie was
consecrated in the cathedral Of ST.
Peter at Richmond, on the 1st of Nav.
1881, by Archbishop Gibbons, assiated
By Bishops Becker, Of Wilmington.
and Keane, of Richmond, Bishop Fl.
der preaching the sermon on the oc-
casian. The ceremony was The grand
est ecclesiastical junction ever seen in
Richmond. and attracted the largest
gathering known in the history OF the
Church in the State. After the con-
secration Bishop ..Janssens made a
most touching address TO the mem bers
Of the hierarchy and to his fellow
clergynien, whom lie thanked for all
their kindness and br0therly feeling
towards him from the day Of their
first cordial welcome. ReachingN Match
es May I. he visited his whole do.
cese, and then proceeded to his native
place. where he was received with a
public ovation, aud with rapture by
the loving mother whom he had left
for Gods service ; he went to Rome,
and then returning to this country,
took possession of his diocese.
The ability shown at Richmond
augured a devoted and profitable
administration at Matches. Catholici
ty has not made in Mississippi the
strides that it has at the Northwest,
but unde the care and prudence OF
his predecessors tile little grain of
mustard seed found by Bishop
Chanclie has grown. The Catholic
population was in 1884 estimated at
not quite 1900, the yearly baptlsms
of infants being 1856 the parochial
aud colored schools, chiefly under the
ale Of religious communities, num-
bered nearly 1000 pupils and this
body of Catholics had So churches,
attended BY 80 priests.
T., 1901 IL. ok a.
the Holy Rosary for the Choctaw
indians, among whom the Jesuits
labored in the last century, The
mission has succeeded beyond expec-
%tation. and Sisters Of Mercy have es
tablished a school in the tribe.
In 1888 Bishop Janssens was pro-
NOTED to the see of New Orleans as
to the late Archbishop
Leray.
As Archbishop of New Orleans he
at once lnaugurated measures to res
tore order out of chaos in the finan-
cial affairs of the diocese, and at the
time of his lamented death, he had
already succeeded in not only redn.
cling the debt but in putting it ia a
fair way to be soon finally %extinguish-
ed. He also labored hard to secure a
native clergy for the State, and III his
successor take up that work where he
left off and prosecute it faithfully, the
time Is not distant when we shall have
a native clergy in Louisiana.
FAIR AT ST-ANNA.-A grand fair
will be given at St. Anna School, on
tho plonfof;nn 81 M. r TroroJ.:.