The Washington herald., 1913-02-15
Roman Catholic.

| Father Joseph Caruana, first Catholic
missionary among the Indians OF the Pa
cifc Northwest, and recognized as the
| founder OF that faith in what was then
known as Oregon, will be the central
| figure in the celebration at Spokane next
! fall of the fiftieth anniversary of the
planting Of the Catholic faith in that part
OF the country. Fifty years ago on
october 10. 1853. Father Caruana bap-
tized seventy-five Indian children and
five adults, all members OF the Occur
d. Alene tribe, the baptism being held on
the spot where the Northern Pacific Rail-
ways passenger station now stands in
Spokane. An investigation by Father
George F. Weibel, of Gonzaga University.
shows that Father Caruana, at the head
| of band of twelve priests, found his
| way to Spokane River Falls in the early
| SOS. Father Weibel is authority for the
! statement that the first baptism of In
dians i'll the Pacific Northwest was con-
Quoted at the site of what is now Spo-
kane. in October. 1865.
So far as is known. Father Caruana is
the only one OF the band of pioneer
priests now living. After completing his
work with the tribes around Spokane he
went TO De Smet. Idaho where he found
cd the first Catholic mission I'm that mart
Of the country. The mission still stands
and the aged priest. known to the In
dams as Soscp and patriarch priest Of
the tribe. Is still the leading spirit of
the community. He is seventy nine years
old.
The president and faculty of Gonzaga
University. Spokane, arc now planning a
golden jubilee to commemorate the plant
ing OF their faith there, and Father Car
Auana will have a large part to play in
the ceremonies
The death recently OF Rev. Joseph ].
Plantvigne, curate at the Church of st.
Francis Xavier. Baltimore, serves to call
attention to the small group of negro
priests of the United States. There have
been six, of whom four are living. Rev
Augustin Tolton was the first of his
race to be ordained. He was a native
OF Illinois, came of slave parents, studied
and was raised to holy orders in the
propaganda College, Rome, in 1883; took
charge OF the Catholic negroes In Chicago
In 1889, erected st. Monica's Church for
them. and continued as pastor until his
death in 1907.
Father Plantvigne was a native of
Louisiana, studied in Epiphany Apostolic
College and st. Joseph's Seminary, Baiti-
more, was ordained in the latter in 1907,
served for a time as a missionary among
his own people and about four years ago
Xavier, Baltimore, which is for the ex-
elusive use of negroes. Father Plant
.vigne will be remembered by Bostonians
as the first colored priest to give a mis-
sion in that city for the people of his
race. This was held in December, 1910,
in old St Patrick's Church, in North
hampton Street.
The other four negro priests are: Rev.
Charles r. Uncles. who was the second
to be ordained-in the Cathedral, Balti-
moru, in 1891, by Cardinal Gibbons. For
some years he has been a member of the
faculty of Epiphany Apostolic College
Next came Rev. John II. Dorsey, raised
to the priesthood in the Cathedral. Balti-
more. in 1902. He is now a teacher In st.
Joseph's Collage for negro cathechists,
Montgomery. Ala. Rev. Joseph A. Bur-
CESS, c. 8. Sp., was ordained in Parts in
1897. He is now a professor I'm the Holy
Ghost Apostolic College, Cornwall, Pa
Rev. Stephen l.. Theobald. a native OF
British Guiana, W.. J., was made a priest
in st. Paul Seminary. st. Paul. Mimi, in
June, 1910. He is stationed In that city.
Solemn high mass will be celebrated at
st. Joseph's Church, Second and CI
Streets Northeast, Sunday morning In