The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-07
JoSEPHITE FATHERS.
Who Devote Themselves to Religious
Interests of the Negro.

Those who are interested in the
spiritual welfare of the colored peo-
pie of the South will be pleased to
know that great success is attending
the energetic efforts of the Josephite
Fathers from Baltimore who devote
themselves exclusively to the religious
interests of the negro. On Pentecost
Sunday there we're baptized in st. Jo-
seph's Church, Richmond, Va, twenty
five men, women and children; and
on Pentecost Monday there were forty
persons confirmed by the Right Rev.
Bishop O'Connell-all those con-
frmed being converts. The Baptism
which took place on Sunday was wit
messed by large gathering OF col
ored people, most Of whom had en-
tered the true fold since the opening
of ST. Joseph's Church some twenty
odd years ago. The older colored peo-
pie were affected to tears by the
sight of so many boys and girls enter
ing under the ever protecting wing
of the true Church whose laws and
directing influence are the only guar
antee of the future we'll being of the
growing colored race. After the con-
firmation Bishop O'Connell congratu-
lated the Jealous priests and sisters
of st. JOseph's Mission on the sue
cessful issue of their laborious efforts.
The number of baptisms since this
church was first started has exceeded
the seventeen hundred mark-an evil
dent indication of Gods generosity to
His poor colored children. A happier
looking assemblage of converts could
scarcely be found anywhere on such
an occasion than the little flock
whom the Bishop addressed at the
close of the services when exhorting
them to live up to the teachings of
the Catholic Church which is guided
by the same Holy Ghost whom they
had just received.
The principal source whence come
the larger number of converts is the
Van de Vyver College, attached to ST.
Joseph's Church. This institution
which has been quite recently erected
and opened to colored pupils, is the
only one of it's kind in this country,
and it bids well to great success, not
only by the Christian training it gives
to those who attend it, but also by
the good impression it is making on
the minds of the grown element of
negroes, who had hitherto looked ask
ance at the proclaimed sincerity of
the Catholic Church in regard to the
colored man. The adult generation
is well aware that this grand institu-
ton has been erected by the charit-
able contributions of the Catholic peo-
pie of the whole country; and the very
existence of this college, is the ma.
terial fact which appeals the more
convincingly to their simple minds, OF
the real earnestness of the Catholic
Church in behalf of the negro race
One half Of city square is occupied
by the buildings of st. Joseph's Mis-
sion In addition to the church
priests house and college, there is
also a convent wherein abide the Sis
tiers of ST. Francis from England, who
have been faithfully attached to this
1A1CnuuOuOS v c.y 1n1S61OA 1OI kuO Ids
twenty-eight years. A Josephite Fa
Their from Baltimore superintends the
college, and cooperating with him are
the Sisters and a faithful corps of lay
teachers. The welfare of the little
ones is looked after in the kindergar
ten wherein nearly forty colored chill
dren are carefully trained under the
watchful eyes of the Jealous nuns.
A very encouraging sentiment pre-
walls amongst the colored Protestant
parents of Richmond, and is mani
tested by their expressions of delight
and enthusiasm over the efforts anC
early success of the priests and Sis
tiers conducting this mission and its
highly praised college. Those coloreC
parents who have succeeded in life tt
the extent of owning their homes
and there are quite number of such
in Virginia mo longer entertain thai
old prejudice against the Church
which formerly prevailed. Quite FIRE