The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-11-30
SPOKANE, WASH.

Spokane, Wash, Nov 1S.-"If any one
had passed through Spokane in the
early SOS and asked to be directed to
the Catholic church he would have
been shown a diIapidated shack in Main
street, relic of the past that has
ceased to exist. In this primitive tenn
pie mass WAS from time to time cele-
brated by the Jesuit fathers, who lived
among the Indians on Peon Prairie,
letght miles from town. The shack was
l4X20 feet, but it was more than Suffi
cient to hold 4 few faithful worshipers
who then represented the Catholic
church of Spokane. OF course with the
growth of the city, the Catholic body
grew. and Father Cataldo, superior of
the Jesuits in the Rocky mountain dis
trict, foreseeing the future needs of the
church, purchased building sites in var
ious parts of what is now Spokane, a
substantial and modern city of $4,000
population"
i Rev. Herman j. Collier, S. j.. presi-
dent of Gonzaga college, makes the
foregoing statement in writing of the
progress of Catholicity in Spokane,
adding:
Before the end of the decade, a more
substantial building was erected in
Main street close to the original shack.
Another church was built on the site
where st. Joseph's now stands. and was
handed over to the bishop, who ap-
pointed parish priest to take charge.
The Jesuit fathers, in the meantime,
while still attending to the Main street
church, established also the parish
church of st. Aleysius, on the north
side, where Gonzaga college came into
ayiStnnco in IN no Oh,
priest at ST. Joseph's took over the
Main street church, and the Jesuits de-
voted their energies to st. AloysiuS
church and T." college. BY this time.
| the Sisters rovidence and the Sis
| tiers of the Hoy Names had invaded
the missionary field. The former estab-
lished the Sacred Heart hospital. which
from small beginnings has rapidly as
sumed it's present dimensions. As.
however, it does not suffice for the de-
mands made on the sisters. there is al
ready rising into view a stately build |
ing on the heights to the south of
town, where the sisters hope to find
more room for their charitable minis |
tratiOns.
THE Sisters of the Holy Names ar
rived soon after the Providence Sis !
tiers, and took charge of the school in |
connection with the Main street church. |
This was a humble beginning, but they |
soon found a wider field for their Ia |
bors hence the foundation of the acad- |
envy of the Holy Names, large brick |
structure, erected in St Aloysius' par
ish, not far from Gonzaga college. This
is, beyond doubt, one of the finest edu- |
cational establishments for young Ia
dies in the whole country.
Meanwhile the Franciscan Sisters, |
l,oy trrn lot nv
built up that beautiful edifice now known |
asas st. Joseph's orphanage.
There are now five fourishing par
ishes in Spokane. Of these. the parish |
of Our Lady of Lourdes is the chief, |
for here is situated the pro-cathefral, |
a fine building which takes the place
of the Main street church, now closed. |
To it is attached a parOchial school. |
Rev. FIR. Verhagen is pastor of this |
parish. The Rev. FIR. DeKanter pre-
sides over St. Josephs, populous and
rapidly growing district. while St.
Aloysius church and parish remain I'M
der the care of the Jesuits. Union Park
and Lidgerwood have been recently |
added, while Hillyard, outside the city |
lin IS, it served from Gonzaga college.
''t'rom this brief sketch the progress
of visible Catholicity in Spokane may !
be surmised A glance at the work be- |
ing done in the institutions mentioned |
would be a revelation to a newcomer. |
It is but a few years that intervene be- |
tween the shack in Main street and the !
ro-cathedral The original GOnZaga |
college. which started with an attend |
ance of about a score, was fine brick |
building, which, it was thought, would |
suffice for every need of the next TWEEN
ty years, but twenty years have passed |
4, ;,I, oil
might be lost, Is throbbing with the vi
tality of $50 youthful hearts and brains
that within its walls imbibe the truths |
of religion and secular science.
1.-The college is fitted out with all the |
latest improvements, a spacious gym
nasium and reading rooms, museum, Ii
braries and physical chemical labora-
tories. The huge dOrmitories excite the
wonder of visitors, and the long cor
ridors fill them with surprise, while in
the extensive Fairgrounds attached to
the college the youngsters display their |
energy and athletic skill, and fill the
air with their resounding mirth. 1t is
surely the finest collegiate building in
the northwest, and would compare Ia
yorably with any in the country.
1.-THE Academy of the Holy Names at
tends to the educational wants of more
than 400 young ladies, and recently a
normal school has been started in con-
nection with this institution. st. Jo-
seph's orphanage, though large build
ing. is crowded, and the parish schools
attached to the pro-cathedral and st.
Joseph's church are well attended. The
churches are filled at the principal
services.
1--WE could speak at great length on
these matters, but time will not permit.
nor have we called attention to other
features of Catholic progress in Spo-
kane we'll worthy of mention, such as
the foundation of the Convent of the
Good Shepherd, which is thriving in our
midst In Spokane, every Catholic en-
terprise has thriven, and is encouraged
and assisted by the willing parishion-
ers. To this old pioneers, who wor-
SHIPPED in the little shack in Main street
twenty years ago, can testify with joy
and gratitude to God"
The Auditorium.
Manager O'Mara announced that the