The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-08
BISHOP ALLEN
To GO TO ROME
VIII Present to the Holy
Father An Account of
All Work Done.

4
1t becomes my duty to proceed TO
Rome and present TO the Holy Father
an account of the worl~dohe in behalf
of religion in this diocese since the
| beginning of my administration. On
the day of his solemn conservation TO
the Episcopal Office. the Bishop makes
a sacred promise To- visit at proper in
tervals the tombs of the great Apes
! ties, Peter and Paul, and at the same
time pay his respectful homage to the
successor of St Peter. This sacred
promise must now be fulfilled
| The purpose of this canonical visit
| is threefoid. The first is to venerate
the last resting place of the Apostles;
secondly, to show reverance and ODE
dianee TO the successor of st. Peter,
and, thirdly. to submit a report of the
condition of the diocese.
! In the language of the church, this
| is called visit ad limina Apostolic
rum. In the performance of this duty
/ the Bishop pays a formal visit to the
/ tombs Of the TWO apostles in the crypt
of st. Peters basilica, and devotes
some time TO humble and earnest
prayer, seeking through the powerful
| intercession of these two great saints
aid and inspiration for his work, and
grace 10 imbibe their apostolic spirit.
The next duty is to pay homage to
| the Sovereign Pontiff, and to receive
| from him words of advice or reproof,
| If reproof be needed, and encourage
ment to bear the burden of the re-
sponsible trust placed upon him. The
| bishop must be prepared to answer
any question the Holy Father may put
to him in reference to the welfare of
souls in his diocese.
The third duty is to submit to the
proper congregation written report
| of the condition of the diocese since
the date of the last official visit. OPP
portunity is thus given to the bishop
to make known any difficulties he
may have had in the administration
of ecclesiastical affairs, and obtain
advice and direction on all that con-
Germs the well being of the flock en-
trusted to his care. 1t is easy to see
that visit such as this, in which hte
bishop meets his Venerated Superior,
the Supreme Head of the Holy Catho-
lie Church, and comes in contact with
Prelates distinguished for faith, piety
and learning, must be of untold bene-
fit to a pastor of souls, and in the end
rebound to the spiritual advancement
| of his flock.
In spirit of faith and devotion 10
the Holy See, | go to Rome to make
this visit. l will ask the Holy Father
TO bless our work and bless all who
dwell within the diocese, whether
they are actually members of the fold
or by baptism and good will belong
to it in spirit. | shall tell the Holy
Father about the zeal and devotion
OF the clergy and their loyalty to the
See Of Peter; the devotion and piety
or the members of our religious com
munitles and the sacrifices they are
q Tzac IN
asylums and other charitable institu.
tons, to build up Gods kingdom in
the hearts of men. By comparing
the statistics of 1897 given in the di-
rectory with those given fog last wear.
1907, we can see the advance made
by the church in the last decade, and
for this we should give profound
thanks TO God for the blessings which
He has shOwered upon us. In 1897
we had rs secular and regular priests
laoor1ng in the. dfoCeseI the report
just gwen IN for last year shows that
we nave now 102 in the diocese
In 1897 We had % churches with
resident priests and now We have AZ
In 1897 we had Is parishes with
parochial schools and now we have 81
In 1897 we had 2,526 children under
catholic care in our colleges. acade-
mics and schools, and now we have
5,0S6.
In 1897 we had hospitals and two
orphan asylums and now we have 4
hospitals and 3 orphanages. in which
over 400 children were cared for last
year We have besides a house of the
Little Sisters of the Poor. founded bv
the generous charity OF Mr.. Patrick
f1annan, aided also by the generous
oequest of the late John LYONS.
In 1897 we had no
$50 and of converts so.
For 1907 we had 1928 baDtisms of
infants and 4SS of converts. the total
number of baptisms for 1897 being
$50, asainst41. 1876 for 1907.
In 1897 the number of marriages
was 165; in 1907 the marriages were
In 1897 the Catholic population was
given as 1900, and in 1907 the nlrm-
Der was 3S,OS4.
BESIDES, we have the McGiu Insti-
.ate, founded and endowed by the late
Messrs. Arthur and Felix McGiII.
whose oound!ess charity TO every re-
nSfous work in this diocese cannot he
too highly praised or apureciated
May God send US others like them
10 continue and foster Charitable
WORKS IN the diocese, In naming
those 10 whom the diocese owes >
great debt of gratitude, l must NOT for
get The late Charles Farley. whose
generous bequests have enabled ne n
accomplish much for the orphans n
the diocese and TO build up churches
IN poor districts where they were
sadly needed
Two years ago the diocese was
sorely tried by cyclone and tidal
wave which destroyed or damaged 2
great amount Of church property.
am happy 10 say that the churches
nave been rebuilt or restored in ever
pace except St Elmo and Co1en
which will be looked after at no dis
taHt day. -'o W.
This great result has been ob,ainel
partly through your own offerings
oat IN great measure from the one
inss sent by sympathetic friends from
aH parts or the country We are par
ucr1arly indebted to the ,clergy ana
ialty OF the archdiocese of oBston
and New Orleans, and 10 the dioceses
or Providence. Buffalo and Inifanapo.
lis for VerV substantial aid