The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1906-01-06
THE IRISH CHRISTIAN BROTH
ERS IN ROME.
(Western Watchman

The Irish Catholic has been regu-
larly informed during upwards of six
years of the strenuous and successful
efforts being made by the Irish Chris
tian brothers to give a full realization
to the hopes entertained about them
by Cardinal Jacobin, who, as acting
bishop of Rome. wondering what he
could do best for the saving of the
faith by means of Catholic education,
bethought himself of the splendid work
which he had seen the Irish brethren
perform at Gibraltar, and invited them
to open house in the Papal City.
The brothers have now signalized the
completion of five years of devoted and
successful labors by a most commend
able extension of their works, which at
Via Firenze, Nov. 10, was carried on
under great difficulties owing to the
large number of night school pupils
who had to be crowded into small
rooms, and also to the fact that the
accommodation for the members of the
community had left almost everything
to be desired.
But at the last continuance at No. 10
Via Firenze became impossible, and it
has been decided with obvious wisdom
to seize the moment of a new religious
and social opening up of the Pratt di
CASTILLO, where the zeal of Plus x. is
answering to the daily influx of popu-
lation by creating new parishes.
School it is, but a not good school
for boys; yet it is, in its space between
the Church of st. joachim and the riv-
er, the favorite residential quarter of
Rome. It was, therefore, opportunely
suggested to the Irish community that
by transferring their day school to this
district, where they would have the rich
quarter along the riverside and the
middle-class residences on SIT. Peters
side, they would be rendering an i'm
mense service to all the youth of the
district, the cause of Christian educa-
ton, and indeed the very Christianity
of Rome
After mature reflection, the commu-
nifty divided to adopt this course, de-
spite its manifest difficulties, such as
the cost of purchase, the necessity of
building, and so forth. Preparations
ensued, and lasted for about half a
year, until last month, when 1 fore
shadowed the results of their momen-
tous decision by a paragraph in these
columns.
The first step was to enter the Pratt,
and somehow form a nucleus of their
vaster future work. This the brothers
did by setting up their home and open.
ing the day schools at Piazza CavouT,
No. "a, where the narrow quarters on
Via FirenZe abandoned by them had a
splendid, airy and sunlit substitute. It
was not feasible, however, nor desir-
able to remove the night schools from
their old vicinity, so they were re-
opened on Via Rasella, not many min
utes' walk from Via Firenze. Their
crowded classes are the best testimony
to tthe reputation of the community.
All these temporary arrangements
will continue until a new and perma-
nent center shall have been inaugur-
ated on Via Pompeo Magno, nearer to
the Church of st. Joachim than to the
river, yet only five minutes wafH frosA
the river. Naturally the future edi-
flee will meet the needs of our educa-
tional establishments and suitable COM
munity house such as will not exact
the arduous sacrifices hitherto uncom-
plainingly endured for a sacred duty.
Through the kind offices of the pope's
secretary of state. the land has been
purchased by the brothers ut low fig
ure, though, of course, a considerable
property in a fashionable quarter of
a terribly ovarpopuIated city had to be
well paid fo-. On this handsome site,
Messrs Leonori will very soon begin 10
erect large building according to de
signs concerted between them and the
brethren
- tiie PioiliiSe VI Iile IuluIe De eA-
cellent in every way, and greater even
than the past success, the path for
ward is still arduous. But the brothers
are confident that the knowledge of
the immense advantage which religion
in Rome is sure to derive from their
work on behalf of Christian education
in the Pratt de Castillo will impel
many friends to rally to their support.
and enable them to bring their good
undertaking to a successful issue with
in a couple of years.
Moreover the holy father cordially
approves of the work, and accords
special blessing to all who cooperate.
Not few friends of the order have
already given the community encour-
aging assistance.