The Irish standard., 1915-09-01

Bishop PrOVencher with one priest,
Father Destroismoisons: Recognizing
the value of the priest at these early
missions, the Hudson Bay Co. voted
the sum of $2500O per year for their
support The early missions around
St. Boniface suffered severely in 1925
because of the flood in the Red river
country So great was the destruc-
ton that practically all of the colon
lists left, many of them following
those who, at an earlier time, settled
at Fort Smelling. The pastor at Penn
bina, Father Destroismoisons, was
born at Fort Pierre January II, 1896,
and was ordained October II, 1919.
He came to the Red river in 1920.
He learned the Chippewa language,
although his 1abors were chiefly con-
fined to the French Canadian settlers.
A school for girls was opened at St.
Boniface in 1929. 1t was in charge
of two young ladies, Misses Nolan,
the first lady teachers in Manitoba.
Bishop Provencher returned to Can
ada in 1880 in search of priests and
funds for the mission. He was ac-
companied' on his return by Father
BelcourA the second resident priest
in North Dakota. They arrived in
St. Boniface June II, 1881. The list
of pastors and missionary priests in
the early history of the Catholic
church in North Dakota includes the
following names. Father Dumoulln,
who came in 1918; Father Destrois-
moisons, who came in 1920; Father
Harper, 1922; Father Boucher, 1927;
Father Belcourt, 1881; Father Roire,
1882; Father Thibault, 1888; Father
Demers, 1887; Father Mayrand, 1888;
Father Darveau, 184l; Father La
leche, 1874, and Father Bourassa,
1874. Father Aubert and Father
Tache, the last named was later Arch
bishop of St. Boniface, came in 1845.
Archbishop Tache died at St. Boni-
face June p, 1894. He was rela-
tive of the French Chevalier who dis
covered the Red river country. The
two Oblates, Fathers Aubert and
Tache, belonged to the Oblates of
Mary Immaculate. The superior of
the order had promised Bishop Pro-
vencher to supply him with sufi-
cient number of priests to care for
the northern missions. Father Tache
was for many years Vicar General of
the bishops in Minnesota and Dakota,
those who labored in his jurisdiction
being Bishop Grace, formerly Bishop
of ST. Paul; Bishop Seidenbusch, of
St. Cloud; Bishop Marty, also of St.
Cloud, and Bishop Stanley. The
early missionary priests accompanied
the caravans and carts on their expe-
ditions to and from the settlements.
The priests said Mass nearly every
morning on the way. The reader will
be more impressed with the impor-
tance of these caravans when it is
known that in 1858 they numbered
six hundred. Lake Traverse was at
this time added to the missions.
Father Ravoux instructed and bap-
tized, and later at the execution of a
number of the Sioux Indians, gave
spiritual consolation to a number who
were hanged at Mankato because of
their participation in the massacre of
1862. There was scarcely spot of
ground between Lake Traverse and
Pembina along the caravan route on
which mass had not been said by
the early missioners, Bishop Laheche
being particularly active in that Sec
ton of the mission. The inhabitants
of the settlements led a more or less
nomadic existence. Settlements were
practically deserted twice each year,
when the hunting season opened.
Father Fraud was given the work of
accompanying the hunters. He was
ordained in 1847. He was consecrated
Bishop at Athabasca, Mackenzie, in
1864, and died September 26, 1890.
Father Belcourt, who was assigned
to the northern missions, compiled an
Indian grammar and dictionary which
are still counted as books of author
ity. He had the first exclusively In
dian congregation in the Red river.
Pembina appeared first in the Cath
olic directory under the diocese of
Dubuque in 1849. In 1852 it was re-
ported under the diocese of St. Paul.