The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-27
the CHURCH on THE
NORTH DAKOTA PRA|RIEs

NEW PARISHES ORGANIZED IN
5 YEARs-s4 PRIESTS IN THE
DIOCESE.
The diocese of Bismarck, although
erected in 1909, is still missionary
diocese in the strictest sense of the
word, writes Bishop Wehrle, o. S. B.,
of Bismarck in Extension" 1t en-
braces what may consistently be called
new country, for the population
has immigrated here within the last
fifteen years. OF course, within the
last five years things have improved
some, but there is indeed field for
missionary activity in this diocese,
and an unlimited chance is offered to
do good to the poor Catholics of my
missions. Five years ago we had
thirty-four priests. To-day we have
sixty-four priests. Within five years
fifty-one new congregations have
been organized, and yet there are a
number of places where Catholics are
still living thirty and more miles from
the nearest church or chapel Would
that / had the means to remedy this
great evil! But, though my missions
are poor, they have had help. Like
many other missionary priests and
bishops, whose articles / read in the
pages of Extension Magazine, l have
had recourse to Extension Society,
and have received much from it. My
relations with The Catholic Church
Extension Society have been very
happy. We have been insistent beg
gars, / know, but Extension has often
sent us very substantial aid. At least
fourteen places which now have little
mission chapels would have remained
without them for many, many years
to come had it not been for the help
ing hand lent us by the Society. Only
the missionary knows the hope that is
enkindled in the hearts of congrega-
ton of scattered Catholics by the
promise of $500. 1t gives them cour-
age and determination to do their
share in the upbuilding of the Church,
~ hCCCooolJ AL IhOlA Onh opA 1Iuol
welfare.
Gifts from the Extension Society.
But although the Society has been
mainly responsible for the erection
of these fourteen chapels, yet it has
also done much for my missions in a
smaller capacity. Many affairs erected
in other churches are the gift of Elk.
tension. Vestments, sacred vessels
and other things necessary for the
carrying out of the services of the
Church come from the same blessed
people. 1t is only natural that the
sanctity of the august Sacrifice of the
Mass is better appreciated when it is
offered up on neat, clean little altar,
than on a dry-goods box or sewing
machine; and surely they are more
impressed when the priest stands be.
fore them in dignified sacred vest.
ments than when they behold him with
chasuble which shows the wear and
tear of hundred mission trips.
Extension Society has done much to
build up the Faith and strengthen the
religious life of this diocese. How
much it has accomplished, God alone
knows. And surely these poor people
deprived of the very necessities of re-
ligion in SO many cases, are badly in
need of whatever help they get, lest
in this cold and Indifferent world their
Faith be shipwrecked.
In many parts of my diocese there
have been too many Catholics, entirely
unknown to any priest or to their
bishop, for many years. One can not
blame this altogether upon them, al
though their own carelessness is part
ly at fault; but when they have lived
so long without the blessings of a
church, and without having the Bread
| of Life broken to them, lukewarm
ness and difference are bound to be
| the result. Poverty is another cause
Some people console themselves with
the assurance that when they are bet
ter off they will go to Mass; but riches
do not come very rapidly on these
prairies, while the fire of Faith grows
dim when it is not nourished by the
Holy Sacramento or even by religious
instruction.
! In one place little mission chape
has been built for congregation o.
twelve families. Shortly after its
erection l preached four days mis-
sion at this place, with the result that
three children of Catholic parents
aged 10, Is and Is years of age, re
ceived Baptism. Another son of Cath
olic parents, aged "a, made his frs
Confession and received Holy Com
munion for the first time. One invaliC
marriage was corrected and an OLE
man went again to the Sacrament.
after having neglected them for more
than fifty years.
One of the difficulties to be takel
into consideration is the question o
Catholics who will not acknowledg,
themselves to be such. They seem t,
be in hiding, as it were afraid t
come out and "own up to their Faith
but the erection of little chapel Otter
works wonders in encouraging then
and giving them moral conviction sui
ficinnt tn fulfil their dIItipS