The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-12-21
| GLORIOUS RECORD

II 0LUnlUUU HLUUnU
A Historical Sketch of the organiza-
ton and Work of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith Since Its
Foundation in 1922-Over $50 Zoo, 900
Collected and Discussed to Aid Cath
Ollie Mission Work-America Has
Paid Back Half of What 1t Received.
Under the title of "The Society for
the Propagation of the Faith and the
Catholic Missions" Mgr. Freri, Ma
tional Director, recently published an
historical sketch of the society, de-
scription of it's organization and ad-
ministration, and an official report of
what it has done for the missions
since it's foundation in 1922 to 1912.
Like many other great works of the
Church, the Propagation of the Faith
had humble beginnings and owes it's
origin to the charity of some poor
people, poor in the goods of the
world, but rich in faith and animated
by an ardent desire to communicate
that unspeakable gift to their far
away brethren still deprived of it.
Founded in France in 1922 upon the
instance of an American Bishop who
was in need of help for his diocese of
New Orleans, the Propagation of the
Faith was soon introduced in other
countries and twenty years later we
find it organized all over Europe and
in North and South America. It had
realized it's programme of being, not
National, but a Catholic associa-
ton, receiving aims from the faith
full of all countries and assisting the
apostolate throughout the whole mis-
sionary world. This is why it enjoys
the perhaps unique distinction of hav-
ing been placed by Pope Gregory XVI
| in the rank of universal Christian
institutions.
Amount Collected.
The second part Of the pamphlet is
made up of interesting statistics.
From 1922 to 1912 the Propagation of
the Faith has collected and distrib-
uted to the missions $80,349, 653.66.
To this sum American Catholics have
contributed $1,000, 429.41, which is not
very large amount since it extends
over period of seventy-two years; but
we must not forget that for many
years the American Church was itself
in need of outside help; in fact, it
has received from the Propagation of
the Faith total of $6,309,214.40. The
list of distributions of that sum among
the various dioceses is given, and
clearly shows that there is not a
single portion of the Church in the
United States which, at one time or
another, has not been assisted by the
society. At present some twenty of
our dioceses are still receiving little
help.
It is consoling to see that American
Catholics are making some efforts to
pay the debt of gratitude which they
owe to their less fortunate brethren
who do not possess the blessings they
enjoy SO plentifully. In the last ten
years they have contributed about two
millions of dollars to the cause, and
the returns which in 1901 amounted to
$77,000.00 are now not far from $780,
100000 annually.
ALLEGATION of Funds.
There are at present POI dioceses,
vicariates or procedures Apostolic
throughout the world receiving a
yearly ALLEGATION from the Propaga-
ton of the Faith. The total number
of missionaries is placed approx
mately at 10000 priests (members of
ffty-five religious orders or societies),
1000 Brothers and 100000 Sisters; a
noble army indeed but a most made
quate one if we consider the victories
to be won. The contrast between the
number of Catholics and the total
population is painful one. From
the figures presented it appears that
in those dioceses, vicariates, ETC.,
which form the mission field of the
Church, there are only about IL
millions of Catholics out of total
population of $50 millions of schis-
mates, infidels and pagans.
i This is why, though we congratulate
the Society for the Propagation of the
Faith for the immense good accom-.
p1ished through it's efforts and the
wonderful impetus it has given to the
missions during the last century, we
cannot but join in the conclusion oil
the author of the pamphlet:
Il IF 1t il not our vocation to follow
in the steps of the missionaries, let
us at least give them the help OF pray.
ers and aims needed to fulfill the
Divine command by which they are
sent: Go We into the whole world
and preach the Gospel to every crea
Jlture.'"