The Irish standard., 1904-11-19

sion had daily celebrated holy mass
In that Baptist church, and from the
second week, after having explained
to the people the rosary, the congrega.
ton said with me the beads every
night. Next December the Sth, will
be the second anniversary of the con-
version Of this Baptist congregation.
There are now about 100 monthly COM
municants, a large number of converts
having been added on two occasions
during the past year, viz: March 10th
(Feast of st. Joseph) and on the vigil
of Pentecost, and the prospects for the
total conversion of the island (about
1000 souls) are very fair.
-Four Oblate Sisters of Providence
from Baltimore have opened a school
year ago, and two priests continue
the work also here.
The next steps to be taken, is to
"break the ground" in the various
other islands mentioned above, and I
intend to commence in Great Cayman
ON my return voyage. The great
est obstacle, however to be over
come in our missionary work
is the difficulty in getting from island
to island, as there is not only no steam
ship, but not even a regular sailing
ship-service between them. Hence a
so-called mission ship would be great
blessing and of an immense advantage
for the missionaries, but how procure
such vessel?
Having consulted many priests and
also several bishops, various plans
have been suggested. One was, to ap-
peal to some wealthy Catholics. 1
have done it. but without success.
Another plan is the following:
To make an appeal through the
Catholic press to all Catholic colleges,
academies and societies, AND to request
| their presidents to collect or have col
lected from every member of the in
stitute or society one penny as a
jubilee-offering for the immaculate. -
A more appropriate name for the ship
than this could surely not be chosen,
thus perpetuating the memory of the
fjubilee-year of Mary Immaculate.
1t was, moreover, suggested that q
statue Of the Immaculate Concep.
tion," with arms extended, be put up
at the helm Of the ship, thereby ex.
pressing, as it were, an invitation on
the part of Our Blessed Mother to the
natives of these islands to become her
children; no doubt the impression at
the entering of the ship into any har.
Dor would be grand one.
1 trust then that for the love of
''Mary Immaculate" entertained by all
her true children, this appeal will not
be left unheeded by the presidents OF
these Institutes and societies, for upon
them it rests to make this charity en-.
terprise a success, and the only way ]
see to reach them, is through the Cath.
Ollie press.
| A list Of the names of all contribu.
tors Gf such be forwarded) will. under
the heading Of each institute or society
be kept in bookform in the main cabin
Of the ship. Any individual contribu.
ton Of 500 pennies will entitle te
sponsorship at the baptism of the YES
sci, and the names of such will be re-
corded in red letters
In order to show their gratitude, the
missionaries will annually keep O
Novena for the intentions of the bene
factors in all the missions preceding
the feast of the Immaculate Concep
ton"
Moreover, picture of the missions
will be sent to each institute or society
as souvenir.
OF course, it is understood that any.
body, not being a member Of such ar
institute or society, is thereby not de-
prived of the pleasure of also contri
buting his or her penny for the elm
maculata.''
Amounts Of a fraction of a dollar
may be forwarded in one or two cent
stamps. Address: Rev. Albert Stree
belle, Missionary, ST. Joseph's Semin'
airy, Baltimore, Md.