Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-09-30
Greatest Catholic COnclave Yet
Held in the United
States.
Important Discussions, Solemn
Procession and Fine Music
Features.
BISHOP O'DONAGHUE IS THERE

The Ursuline Sisters Of st.
IJrsula's Convent in Cincinnati have
furnished an enthusiastic account OF
the first session Of the Catholic Uni
versity Summer School for teaching
Sisters and lay women, from which
we take the following:
Among the Sisters gathered there
from north to south and from ocean
to ocean of this vast continent and
trained in orders and congregations
owing their existence to founders
and foundresses from all over the
world, among the reverend profess
sors and their co-workers brought
from many lands and alma matters,
there yet breathed forth but one
spirit, one heart, one soul, a truly
divine unity in all-embracing
Catholicity.
AS Monsignor Snahan received
those streams of Sisters pouring into
the university grounds on the two
days previous to the actual opening
of the summer school, there may
well have flashed across his mental
vision the similitude of the river
lock withdrawn and the consequent
pouring forth of all the waters. The
Catholic University has withdrawn
its barriers, and the teaching Sisters
of the United States and Canada have
joyfully entered and overflowed its
halls! But this is hardly a fair
comparison, because the Catholic
University has done so much more
than merely open its gates; it has
extended to us, we will not say a
royal, but a Christian welcome. The
sense of the timeliness of this sum-
mer school, of the gaping need it now
begins to fill of the great promise
1t holds forth, and the consequent
feelings of relief, contentment, even
joy, seemed to rise from all hearts
like an essence, prevailing the at
mosphere. How many OF us said,
first to our own souls and then more
expansively to each other: Happily
now, no more universities and pro-
fessors and correspondence courses
for us but those provided by Holy
Mother Church.
The exigencies of the times are
making such demands upon the
teaching Sisters as to strain their en-
duranee to the swapping point. To
save the faith of our children, and
often indeed of their parents, the
grade schools are not enough. The
Catholic Educational Association in
Chicago last July sufficiently demon
strated that Catholic high schools
must follow in every city and town
over this vast country; and high
school and academy teachers should
themselves have had college educa-
tion. Hence for another twenty-five
years TO come, in order to prepare
the needed teachers and establish the
new high schools, labors even heroic
are called for and every assistance
possible from God and Holy Mother
Church. They have come to our aid
In this present action of the Catholic
University of America.
The classes of the summer school
began promptly as scheduled on
July 8, and continued in an orderly
and systematic way not expected in
the initial stage Of any undertaking.
The thirteen courses in education
were especially rich.
But perhaps what touched the Sis
ters most of all was the evident
solicitude of the Right Rev. Rector
and his reverend associates that all
should be carried on with reverent
regard TO the consecrated, religious
life OF the Sisters. They We're given
full opportunity for their various re-
ligious exercises, at least morning
and evening, and at any time inter-
course with our Blessed Lord In the
tabernacle. The beautiful chapel OF
Divinity Hall is endeared to them by
precious graces received there, not
the least of which were the fervent
exhortations delivered by the Right
Reverend Rector on the duties and
privileges OF the religious life.
OF the professors II Is only truth
to say that their evident ability,
their devotion to their work, and the
generosity with which they gave
their time are beyond praise. 1t was
palpable that Gods blessing hovered
lovingly over this first session OF the
summer school. Peace pervaded all
It's halls, "that peace which the
world can not give" and even JOY.
kcause enough for reioicing II was
great need supplied; II was new
work begun for God and souls; d.
vine love unlteu All ucdIlo anu hoiu
forth rainbow promise of Gods con-
tinued benediction. One OF the
Sisters remarked that Il seemed as II
something OF the spirit OF the first
Christians lived among us there in
Divinity and Mcmahon Halls. and
who will Rainsay her? II remains
now for all to do what they can to
further the success OF the Sisters
College. already begun under i'm
mense difficulties, but with the inde-
fatieable zeal OF those whose labors
and prayers have at last brought Il
about. Every great work has Is
pioneers, and we all know 10 whose
untiring zeal the CORRESPONDENCE
courses and the summer school and
the Sisters College are especially
due. God prosper them all and the