The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-13
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WItlll I0Il niles Oh an already GXlSC-
ing one is not permitted. Now all
these nine sects have made an agree
ment and divided up the country
among themselves, each sect taking
charge of a district in which to work
and establish mission stations. In this
way they can practically occupy the
whole country and impede the work
of the Catholic missions. Seeing the
great danger of losing the greater
part of the populated district for our
holy faith, / have to bring out "a
priests and 8 Sisters since 1912, and
establish five new mission: stations.
really started more stations than /
could support, but the situation had
to be saved. 1t was a question of life
and death for my mission. did all
this and hoped to rectify the financial
difficulties during my visit to Europe
in 1914, when l had to go to Rome
to make my report to the Holy See
and attend the general chapter of our
society. My intention was to appeal
to my friends and to the well-wishers
of the foreign missions in my native
country (Holland), and other Euro
pean countries. Alas! shortly after
my arrival-in July-this most ter
rible war broke out, and it is utterly
impossible now while the war is rag
ing and, worse still, the gifts we used
to receive from Europe are all cut
off. A few days ago / received a
letter from my Vicar General saying
that already for months neither dona-
lions nor Mass intentions had come
in from Europe and, worse, that two
Of my mission stations had been
looted and partially destroyed on ac-
count of the war which it also car
ried on in Africa.
You can easily understand how
very critical the condition of my mis-
sion must be and how / must feel
the great burden and responsibility
of having charge of such diocese.
\ What will become of all my priests,
Sisters, catechists, mission stations
and other institutions, situated as
we are in the heart of Africa, thou
sands of miles away from our friends
and relatives, with only natives
around us who, instead of being able
to help us, have to be helped by us,
where no such things as Mass inten-
tons or collections are known?
4 It takes fully $1,000 to maintain a
mission station or convent for year
and from $25 to $50 to support a
teacher for the same time 1t was my
earnest desire to build some small
substantial churches in many places
of my diocese-they are very badly
lneeded also to have my mission
lwell supplied with good catechists
These chosen souls. men and women
:. both intelligent and well instructed
consecrate all their energies to the
laborious work of giving daily in
struction, especially through the me
dunn of the cateehism.
!, However necessary both new little
lchurches and native teachers are, the
) most important question at present is
). Ito collect funds for the support of al
my. priests and Sisters. Unless hell
/ lis forthcoming from our friends here
! Fin America shall have to abandon
i tseveral of my missions and dismiss 8
3 Egreat number of my catechists, who
: lido such excellent work
Ell At present / am here in Pittsburgh
i Istaying at the Epiphany Church, and
: needless to say, shall be very CRATE
Eful for any donations anyone vii
i kindly bring or send to me.