The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-12-17
ST. JosEPH,s INDIAN MISSION.
Nez Perces Celebrate Golden Jubilee
at Slickpoo, Ida.
(Special CONSEQUENTIAL

The devoted clients of the Immacu-
late Mother had every reason to re-
joice on the occasion of the golden
-Cbilee of that great dogma of their
holy faith. 1t was truly very mem
orable and historical event, when fifty
years ago, surrounded by the success
Crs OF the apostles, Plus IL, with a
joyful heart and deep emotion, pro-
claimed to the whole world that she,
whom we honor as our Blessed Mother
lad been conceived immaculate, and
that such always had been the belief
OF all ages. and thus from the history
Ct that dogma, another fair jewel was
added to the Divine Mothers bright
crown. The late jubilee festivities all
| over the world were but q re-echo of
that one which took place in Rome
Some fifty years ago. For this year
it was left to each community to cele-
brate that jubilee in a mode as they
thought best, provided of course, it
promoted d more loyal love towards the
| Immaculate Mother. All our periOdi-
Gals are now filled with the accounts of
row that jubilee has been celebrated
| For this purpose. 1t was to be expected
tat the Indian tribes should have a
share in that celebration in their own
| fashion, since they also have been
trught that the Divine Mother loves
them.
, About some thirty miles from Lewis
! ton, Ida, lies the Indian mission of the
! famous Nez Perez tribe which. under
! Tic most unsurmountable difficulties
/ has been attended to by the devoted
| Jesuit Fathers who brought the light
Cf the gospel to this tribe some thirty
FIVE Years ago. The progress has been
Very slow, yet satisfactory, notwith-
standing all opposition. financial yand
| spiritually. The present humble group
cf buildings are the best monuments
&c missionary work though there is
room for further encoura cement and
development. The great lack of mis-
sICnary subjects to carry on the work
has proved to be the main drawback.
l'ut now things are changed. Some
| two months ago, the Rev. Joseph NJ
Cataldo, S. j., of the above mission
vas requested by Bishop Glirieux of
Boise to proceed to the east TO try If
possible and secure a sisterhood to hep
out that mission by devoting their SER
wees to that undesirable work IT was
so to speak, a hopeless task to get such
ard fears were entertained that IT
would prove for the aged missionary
fruitless trip. With his strong conf
Gence in God that the needs of his
mission would be favorably heard, after
a two weeks sojourn in Philadelphia
he was successful in securing a band
of thirteen sisters of st. Joseph's con-
sTegation, who happily are now domi-
c:led at the mission, preparing them
selves for the great work before them.
It is needless to remark that they are
Charmed with the mission and have
expressed no regret in coming out TO
this portion of the lords vineyard: on
the contrary their numbers will soon
be increased as more applica lions have
come in, and thus the Indians will be
properly attended to.
A novena was held in preparation for
the jubilee, and it was very edifying
to witness the fervor of these poor
people in their humble endeavors to
Please the divine mother. The modest
frame church was nightly filled by
these poor people who heard in their
Swn dialect all about the blessed
mother and how much she loved them.
hence on the feast itself it was not
10 be surprised that both masses were
Fell attended.
At the first mass which was cele-
DRAFTED by the Rev. F. Cataldo. all re-
ceived holy communion in a most edi- !
Tying manner and in the early dawn
the affairs of the blessed mother,
adorned by paper flowers and candles
BUICK Oh SIIHll ld1Q pail covers, looked |
touching to the Indians.
According TO the Indian idea, no |
church festival is perfect unless they |
assist at a high mass which happens |
on the great feasts; for then it is their |
unique privilege to chant the mass and /
the novelty thereof always attracts vis- |
ltorS. Hence for this reason the modest |
edifice was crowded for the last mass.
As usual all the Indians turned out |
we'll dressed in their holiday attire. |
made up Of all gaudy colors, as like |
the pale faces they desire to look at
t1actfve. Father Seer, a very devoted
has labored amongst them
for over twenty years, was choir lead
err Out here one did not expect
cathedral music with full orchestra or
a violin obligato for an offertory. far
Fl ON it; it was simply the plain chant
as desired by the holy father, though
Ii was indiana Proprio." The mass
was well rendered and the pronuncia-
lon truly classic, so much so that the II
celebrant Of the mass, Father Mooney !,
as too much distracted, reminding 4
him of the times when he was a plain 4
chant leader elsewhere. All were very
much edited at the whole proceedings, H
though it lasted two hours. The festi-
val was humble one, but in the sight
Il heaven it was truly acceptable, and
no doubt the blessed mother was we'll
pleased at their humble tribute II
The devoted fathers and sisters are
aboring hard for the ameioration of
his tribe; and have opened a small
school where the faith might be pre-
served. The Indians are only too anxi-
Jus to commit their children to the
MISSION school, but lack of room pre-
tents this, and at times sorrowfully
ave they to be refused. The mission
'epends upon public charity from out
SIDE which at times is very scant. 1t
$ years ago since all approximations
we're withdrawn from our Catholic In
Ian schools, and 1t has proved a hard
struggle since to support them, and
ilnce they are our national wards it is
-ur duty to aid them and let Them
.njoy the same blessings of faith as we
%. AT times we sympathize with our
devoted missionaries who have to en-
.ure so much out here. But words are
heap, ana more practical charity
S required and most of us who are
'-essed with this worlds goods should
tut them to a better use by helping
hem out.
Christmas is approaching and moneys
:: III be spent lavishly on superfiuities.
Why could we not help out such a
'lace as this at our very doors; and
midst our Christmas joys can we not
make those jealous missionaries happy
y playing Santa Claus?
Taking Catholic Position.
The high church Episcopalians are
OminR over 10 tho Catholic ,,0citio,, ~,