The Irish standard., 1904-11-19
ASK THEIR AID
An Appeal to All Catholic COL
leges, Academies
And Societies fer the Mission
Ship "lmmaculata."

Some time ago I arrived from Old
Providence Island (Carribean Sea- in
Baltimore. Having a letter of recon-
mendation from my archbishop, the
Most Rev. Pedro A. Brioschi, of Car
thagena (Colombia), was kindly re-
ceived by his eminence, Cardinal J.
Gibbons, who extended the same favor
to me. have since lectured in vari-
ouse churches Of the archdiocese of
Baltimore on my missionfeld.
The natives of this island all speak
the English language and date back to
the time of the English pirates under
Sir Henry Morgan, 1875, many being of
Irish descent at least from their
fathers side. The same is the case
with the various groups of other is
lands, viz: Cayman islands, Bay is
lands, and Corn islands. Until three
years ago no priest had ever put his
foot on any Of these islands. At about
that time missionary of South Amer
lea wrote an article in one of the Cath.
Ollie papers concerning these islands,
stating that the Catholic faith had
never yet been preached in any Of
them. thereupon resolved to 60 there
and devote the rest Of my life to mis-
sionary work among the poor ignorant
natives Of these islands of the Carri-
bean sea and bring to them the light of
the true faith.
l set out on my voyage in August,
1901, after having read farewell mass
at st. Patrick's cathedral in New York.
His grace, the late Archbishop M. A.
Corrigan, who 25 years previously had
ordained me, impaired most kindly his
blessing to me.
Part Of the voyage had to make on
small sailing vessel, no steamships
touching the islands.
The crew, including the captain, con-
sisted Of five colored men, I being the
only passenger.
One night we had terrific thunder
storm, such as are quite frequent in
the Caribbean sea, and our frail bark
was in constant danger Of being cap
sized. The wind being nearly all the
time during the voyage unfavorable,
it took us fourteen days to make 25O
miles, the distance from the nearest
coast Of Central America to st. An
drew's island.
When we at last landed, was more
dead than alive. had great difficulty
in finding somebody to give me shelter,
when finally an old Baptist had pity
on me and took me in. Soon the tropi-
cal fever took hold of me, and there
being no physician in the island, re-
signed myself to die without the sacra-
ments, for to get priest from the
mainland was simply impossible, they
being so scarce, that year after that
1 had to travel four weeks to find one
in order to make my annual confess
sion.
When in peril on the sea in the
midst of the storm, called upon Mary
the "Star of the Sea" for help. now,
on my sickbed, called upon her, the
Health of the Sick" and each time
she showed herself a loving mother to
me.
For two years 1 was the only priest
in st. Andrews and Old Providence
island. During the first year built
chapel in st. Andrews and dedica ted
it in honor of st. Anthony. Two
priests are now continuing the work
of the conversion of the natives Of
that island. During the second year
gave three weeks mission at one
Of the Baptist churches in Old Provi-
dence island. At the close Of the mis-.
sion the minister (E. Howard and
congregation submitted to the. Catho-
lie church, and I blessed that Baptist
chapel and dedicated it to the "Sor-
rowful Mother" under the title DOL
oroso." From the first day of the mis-