The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-07

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One of the most interesting men in
Tacoma from a biographical stand
point is Right Rev. Mgr. P. F. Hylebos,
pastor emeritus of St. Leo's Catholic
Church and pioneer priest in Tacoma,
says the Tacoma Ledger For thirty
one years he was pastor Of st. Leo's,
which he founded, retiring in Febru-
airy, 1911, and was for twenty-five
years Vicar General of the Diocese of
Seattle. The peculiar biographical
charm of Father Hylebos' life consists
in the numerous churches and schools
of his faith which he inaugurated, and
the mighty factor which study of his
life's work shows him to have been
in the upbuilding of his Church in
Tacoma and the country tributary to
this city. He was born in Belgium
sixty-six years ago and was graduated
from the University of Louvain, of
that country, and ordained as priest
in 1870. Shortly afterwards he came
to America and directly to the State
of Washington, reaching here by
means of rail to San Francisco and
steamship from that city to Portland,
Ore. For three years he remained
at Vancouver, Wash, across the Co.
lumbia River from Portland, as secre-
tary to Bishop A. M. Blanchet, and
president of Holy Angels College
During this time he built two churches
in Clarke county. Next he went to
Cowlitz prairie, remaining six and a
half years and building a parish school
and church. Upon the elevation Of
Father Brondel to be Bishop of Vic
toria, B. c., Father Hylebos succeed
ed him in charge of the missions of
Stellacoom, Olympia and Tacoma
StellacOom was at that time much the
largest and most important of the
three places. The parish of Father
Hylebos extended from Carbonate
to Grays Harbor, and he was constant
ly on the move over this large area.
This territory is now served by more
than three score priests and nearly
$50 members of religious orders in
schools and hospitals. He was made
pastor of st. Leo's in 1880. The mem
bership at that time was 10. 1t is now
1000. Ten years ago he built the
present handsome st. Leo's Church,
which has a seating capacity of 1900
and also built three other churches in
Tacoma. Father Hylebos never left
one of the numerous churches and
schools he constructed until it was out
of debt. He succeeded in inducing
the Sisters of st. Francis and the Wis
itation Sisters to take up educational
and hospital work in Tacoma, and en-.
listed the Sisters of st. Dominic for
Aberdeen, and the Sisters of St.
Joseph for Bellingham. He took a
deep interest in the Indians, mastered
their languages and did much fol-
their welfare. His faith in the future
of Tacoma has been strong from the
first. In the pioneer days he pur
| chased wild acreage on the outskirts
of the then rising hamlet, and it is
now valuable city property. He built
| st. Georges Indian school near Mil
ton, donating for it, tract of land lac
acres in extent. In 1883 he was on
commission named by Cardinal Glib
| bons and went to Washington, D. c..
where he was instrumental in re-
storing an amicable entente between
the government and the Catholic Bish
ops who had charge of the educational
and religious work of the Church
among the Indians. He get an appro
priation of $4,000 from the govern
ment for the support of these schools