The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-12-25

Ri. Rev. Vincent Whel
The Diocese of Bismarck, although
erected in 1909, is still a 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
a 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 for the poor Catholics of my
mission. Five years ago we had
thfrty-fOur priests. Today we have
sixty-fOur priests. Within five years
fifty-one new congregations have been
organized, and yet there are number
of places where Catholics are still
living thirty and more miles from the
nearest church or chapel. Would that
l 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 l read in the pages of
Extension Magazine, l have had re-
course 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 beggars, l know,
but the Extension has often sent us
very substantial aid. At least four
teen places which now have little mis-
sion 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
so necessary for their own spiritual
welfare.
Gifts from the Extension Society.
But although the society has been
mainly responsible for the erection
of these fourteen chapels, yet 1t has
also done much for my missions in
smaller capacity. Many affairs erected
In other churches are the gift of Ex-
tension. Vestments, sacred vessels
and other things necessary for the
carrying out of the services of the
Church come from the same blessed
source. All these gifts encourage my
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
a chasuble which shows the wear and
tear of hundred mission trips.
BY these gifts the Catholic Church
Extension Society has done much to
build up the Faith and strengthen the
religious life of this diocese. How
much 1t 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, en-
ttrely unknown to any priest or to
their bishop for many years. One can.
not blame this altogether upon them,
although their own carelessness is
partly at fault; but when they have
lived so long without the blessings of
church, and without having the
Bread of Life broken to them, luke.
warmness and Indifference are bound
to be the result. Poverty is another
cause. Some people console them.
selves with the assurance that when
they are better off they will go to
Mass; but riches do not come very
rapidly on these prairies, while the
IRE of Faith grows dim when it is not
nourished by the Holy Sacraments or
even by religious instruction.
In one place little mission chapel
has been built for congregation Of