Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-05
ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE'S DEPARTURE
The Eloquent and Distinguished Prelate
Will Leave Santa Fe Tomorrow Night to
Assume the Duties of Archbishop
of New Orleans-His Work
Here-Regret of the Peo-
pie Sketch of His
Career.

Archbishop p. l.. Chapelle, who for
the past seven years has presided with
distinguished zeal. fidelity and ability
over the destinies of the archepiscopal
see of Santa Fe. having arranged the
affairs of his sacred trust here so that
everything will be in readiness for his
successor, will leave the City of the Holy
Faith tomorrow evening for Louisiana
to assume the high function and impos-
ing responsibilities of archbishop of New
Orleans, to the performance of which he
was assigned by his holiness, Pope Leo
NH, some months ago.
The manner in which this important
change was brought about is at nee in
teresting and Instructive. During last
July, about a month after Archbishop
Jansen, of New Orleans, had gone to
his reward, Archbishop Chapelle paid a
visit to Pope Leo at the vatican in Rome.
His holiness. who personally knows the
archbishop very well, greeted him with
much cordiality, and almost immediately
indicated that he wished to transfer the
archbishop of Santa Fe to the vacant
see of New Orleans and asked the pre-
late if he had any objection to the pro-
posed change.
The archbishop responded that, when
he was first ordained as a priest, he
made up his mind to 60 without ques-
ton wherever he was sent by the au-
thOrities of the church, but never to
seek promotion of any kind. He added
that he was well satisfied with his work
in New Mexico, was doing all in his
power to promote the moral, social and
intellectual veal of the people there,
felt that his labors We're being amply re-
warded by the good fruits they were
bearing. and hence he was well content
ed in that field; but, while deeply inter-
ested in the people of New Mexico and
his work among them, he would go to
New Orleans if it was the wish of his
holiness. Whereupon the pope declared
with much earnestness that such was
his wish. This finally disposed of the
matter and gained for the see of New
Orleans one of the most learned, elo-
quent, effective and pious workers in the
great Roman hierarchy.
Archbishop's Work In New Mexico.
During the years that Archbishop
Chapelle has faithfully and effectively
labored for the spiritual and intellectual
uplifting Of the people of New Mexico,
he has commanded the profound conf
dcncc and respect of all classes and
gained the enduring affection of all who
share in the comforts of his religious
convictions and have had the good for
tune to come in touch with his charming
personality in the church. His going
away is generally and sincerely de-
plored as a serious loss to the entire ter
ritory. His noble example, progressive
spirit and untiring activity in doing
good work may truthfully be classed
among the most beneficial influences
that have even reached this territory
and naturally his departure is keenly
regretted.
But the call to New Orleans was n
that he could under no circumstances
disobey, and, as transferring him to one
of the largest and most important arch
episcopal sees in the western world can-
not be regarded otherwise than as con-
spicuous promotion, naturally he must
have felt very much gratified that such
q high honor should have been bestowed
upon him, unsought, by the head of the
church. So the friends of the arch
bishop in Santa Fe all unite in cordially
congratulating him upon his preferment.
What is loss for Santa Fe in the prem
Uses is great gain for New Orleans.
As already indicated in this article
the see of New Orleans Is one of largest
and wealthiest in America. The diocese
boasts of 2O7 priests, of whom 1875 are
diocesan clergymen. 1t has 107 churches
with resident pastors, "a mission
churches, AZ chapels and is stations.
There are 2 Summaries, $ colleges, II
academies, 103 parochial schools, numer-
Gus religious establishment of different
character, and the Catholic population
is estimated at 325, 900 souls, so that
Monseigneur Chapelle, as archbishop of
New Orleans, is apt to nave more work
to do than he found to accomplish at
Santa Fe.
M%onseigneur Chapelle will be the
eleventh prelate to occupy the Louisiana
see, which ranks as the second oldest
one in the United States, it having been
erected in 1853. He will occupy the
massive and historic archipescopa1 resi-
dence on Chartres street, which was
built in 1927 and has sheltered all of his
predecessors. 1t is d solid brick dwell
ling. whose walls, laid in cement that
has hardened into granite, give it the
appearance of a fortress, which SEM
blance is strengthened by the heavy
shutters which bar its windows. its mas
sive portal with its huge iron knocker,
and the high wall which enclOses the
entire property.
Personal sketch of Archbishop Chapelle.
Placidus Louis Chapelle is a native Of
France. having been born at Mende, Au-
gust %, 1912. He descended from a
French family of land owners which has
furnished many prominent men in
politics. science and the Roman Catholic
church. He was educated in his native
town and in the college OF Enghien, in
Belgium. In 1859, In company with his
uncle, he came to America and finished
his education in st. Mary's seminary at
Baltimore, being graduated from that
institution in 1863. On June 20, 1865,
he was ordained for the priesthood, and
for five years was engaged In missionary
work in Montgomery county, Maryland.
In 1868, he received from st Mary's
university the title of doctor of
divinity, and accompanied Archbishop
Spaulding to the vatican council as his
secretary. In 1870 he vas appointed