The Irish standard., 1915-04-10
OUR LADY OF LoURDEs IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
Missionary Erects Shrine With HeIr
of People.

Missionary Ereets Shrine With Help
of People.
Father Vande Walle, a missionary
laboring in the Philippine Islands, is
trying to spread devotion to Mary, and
lately, with his own hands and with the
help of the parishioners Of his very
poor parish he has succeeded in erect
ing what is probably the first Grotto
of Lourdes in the islands.
The other day a letter came into
the offices of the Catholic Church Elk
tension society describing his work:
II have the pleasure of telling you
that grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
was inaugurated near our church on
Dec g." he writes. "The statues were
given by Belgian lady, and the grotto
is the work of the people. The men
brought the stones and the women the
sand. The lime and cement were
bought by the generous cent and FIVE
cent donations of my wealthy parish
toner's. myself was the architect and
sometimes the chief mason, and my
'sacristan-mayor' and others of my
parishioners did the rest. On Dec. 8
more than 400 Holy Communions were
distributed. After the High Mass was
sung by 400 children, thousands
thronged around the grotto, the statue
being still covered. At given mo-
ment during my sermon made a sign
to the 'presidente' Of the town and a
few principles who stood ready to
unveil it, and amid the cheers of the
people, the ringing Of the bells, the ex-
plosions Of two shotguns, the music of
ten-piece brass band, the statue of
the Blessed Virgin appeared to the
wondering eyes Of my beloved Catho-
lies. It was great day for my mis-
sion. Long after had finished the TIE
Deum in the church hundreds stood
gazing delightedly at the foot Of the
grotto. Since the great day the peo-
pie come in crowds to pray here from
early in the morning until late at night.
Even men from other towns. passing
by, manifest their devotion to the
Blessed Virgin by climbing up the
grotto and kissing the statue. May the
devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes at
tract the Lords blessing on the town,
which at present faces a severe fam
ine."
1t was the acknowledgment of Mass
stipends sent to Father Vande Vale
by the Catholic Church Extension So
ciety that brought forth this long &C.
count of the erection of his grotto.
What he says about the famine is true.
His missions that he labored so long
and valiantly for are in danger Of be.
ing destroyed. One of his schools is
closed. A thousand dollars might
mean the salvation Of his work. May
Our Lady Of Lourdes inspire some de.
vout and generous Catholic to come to
his assistance. Donations sent to the
Office Of the Catholic Church Extension
society, Mccormick building, Chicago,
will be gladly forwarded to him.
The Missions at Home.
The Sister Theresa Fund, for the
purchasing of literature for distribu-
ton on the missions of the Capuchin
Fathers in Kansas, is growing. Offer
ings are coming in daily to the So
ciety's office.
The story of Father Keys, a Mill
Hill Father, laboring in the Philippine
Islands, seemed to strike a sympa-
thetic note in every heart. Father Key
is the missionary who wrote to the
Catholic Church Extension society that
the hardships and privations Of his life
in that tropical land were leading him
to an early grave. An appeal for funds
was sent out and generous supporters
of the missions answered. One lady
sent in a check for $500; another sent
500. Almost $1,000 has come in for
him. The society wants to make it an
even thousand, although, of course, we
are not scrupulous about having it
overshoot the mark. Are you repre-.
scented in the donations sent to him?
'"The exposure of seven years to the
tropical heats and rains has done
i<e he 1xyrrkn ,,r1ooc hnlr