The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-22
written for The Catholic Bulletin, by
Rev. James Donahoe.)

Catholics have long recognized there
has been considerable leakage from
the Church in America. Though lead
ing authorities have failed to agree
ON the number lost to the faith, they
have all recognized the great need
for prompt and concerted action in
checking present day losses. Of late,
an increasing number of Catholics
have shown an interest in the work
of preserving to others the greatest of
heritages, and in many ways Jealous
men and women are engaged in i'm
planting or keeping alive the faith in
the hearts of thousands of their
lest favored brethren. Unfortunately,
pastors are compelled to give most of
their time and the best of their efforts
to parochial duties made more onerous
by financial burdens. This leaves
little or no time to them to further
special works and direct special move
ments for the spiritual and civic bet
terment of many who, on account of
poverty and sin, are not hearers of
the Word of God. A movement,
SJdTI6u VI ldJS years, HdS dIISduy MduS
great headway and secured marked
results in bringing many back to
the church and making them intelli-
gent Catholics. This is the Catholic
Settlement Movement which has made
very rapid strides in the leading
cities, especially in New York and St.
Louis.
THE CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY.
The Christ Child Society was organ
ized in St. Paul about two years ago.
It's present officers are:
President Miss Mary Copley; Vice
President, Miss Agnes Vessel; Rec.
Secretary, Miss Jewel Cahoon; Cor.
Secretary, Miss Helen Kennedy;
Treasurer, Miss Mary Toomey; Spirit
ual Director, Rev James Donahoe. The
Board of Directors is made up of the
of1cers and the following members of
the society: Miss Lucille Quinlan,
Miss Alice Short, Miss Loretta New
man and Miss Mabel Shields. Italian
Settlement Committee consists of Miss
Loretta Newman, Mrs. John Burns
and Miss Margaret Webster.
The Christ Child Society has al
ready begun settlement work among
the Italian children of St. Ambrose's
Parish. AS yet it has published no
brochure descriptive of its work
Brief reference to the society, it's
organization and aims, is found in
the report of the Guild of Catholic
Women, of which it is an auxiliary
Its members are nearly all daughters
of active members of the Guild and
have imbibed the charitable and zeal
Gus spirit so much in evidence in their
mothers. The effect of their work
is two-fold. By being afforded oppor
tunity of helping poor children they
nurture that virtue which gives great
est strength to CHARACTERISED denial
BY instructing the little ones in the
tenets of faith they get better GRASP
Ct the truths of our religion; and by
cultivating taste for charitable work
they develop into true types of Catho
lie Womanhood giving prestige to the
Church, determining some to investi
gate her teaching and subsequently
to embrace the Faith.
Its Primary object.
The primary object of the Christ
Child Society is the giving of ade
quate religious instruction to neglect
ed children with a view to keeping
them in the Catholic fold. Under the
leadership of Miss Margaret Busch
sister of Right Reverend Joseph F
Busch, D. D., Bishop of Lead, S. D.
it began effective work before the
opening of st. Ambrose Church anC
tried to get all the Italian children tt
attend Mass at ST. Mary's In this
it was only partially successful Its
members rejoiced on the day the
church was dedicated for the use O
the Italians in the East Seventh
Street District. On the opening DAY.
the church was filled with children
and adults. Among the children were
some who had been attending church
services in non-Catholic churches anC
had been made to feel that they were
very welcome. The work of weaving
Italian children away from the church
of their parents had been going or
for some time. The inducements helC
out to boys and girls to become part
of nearby congregations were sc
great that the Most Reverend Arch
bishop realized there was leakage
and at the dedication of st. Ambrose
Church spoke very plainly to the con
gregation and clearly pointed out the
duty of all regarding where and how
they should worship God
DESTROYS of gaining the good will
of those whom they wished to helI
the Jealous young women of the Christ
Child Society planned to give enter
tainments for the Italian children from
time to time. ST. Mary's School hall
was placed at their disposal and some
excellent programs have been enjoyed
there. The Christmas entertainment
with its generous distribution of can
dies, nuts, fruit, and suitable gifts
brought together an unusually large
number of children and aroused the
enthusiasm of the new members d