Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-01-19

that the end was near He told
Father Heitz before he left, Decem-
Der 30, that he had but a few more
weeks to live, and II was his desire to
spend the time in prayer and contem-
plation with the Jesuits at El Paso. to
whom he was always greatly devoted
He faced death with the same cour-
age, the same holiness of spirit that
characterized his whole life.
His Career an Epic.
The career of Father NORM in the
ground richly colored with the ro-
mantle, picturesque atmosphere of the
pioneer days. 1t was replete with evil
dences of heroic self f-sacrifice. daunt-
less personal courage, and enthus-
iastic devotion to the work to which
he dedicated his life: 1t is the history
of the new era, or time when the
scepter of spiritual dominion passed
from the old Franciscan missionaries,
to the head of a regularly organized
see of the Catholic church at Tucson,
Ariz. When he came here in 1869 the
southwest was a vast, trackless, wild
country, but thinly settled and infest-
ed with numerous bands of maraud-
ing, hostile Indians. He lived to see
it become the veritable empire 1t is
today. He came here with the old
frontiersmen who first dreamed of its
material grandeur: but like the old
Franciscan who came with the Con-
quistadores his dream was of the sal
vation of souls and the building of a
spiritual empire.
Father NORM was born in Clermont,
France, on the Sth day of December,
in the year 1S45. He early In life de-
cided to enter the priesthood, and as
soon as he finished his academic
studies entered the seminary of the
Sulpicians He was ordained a priest
after finishing his studies with high
honors i'm 1869, when "a years of age.
About that time Bishop j. b. Sal
pointe, who had lately been appointed
vicar apostolic of the southwest with
his see at Tucson, Ariz., was visiting
the seminary where he himself had
studied for the purpose of inducing
the young semlnarians to come to
southwestern United States as mis-
sonaries. His appeal was received
with enthusiasm by the young Father
NORM. and he quickly decided to re-
turn with the bishop. However, his
parents greatly objected. Their af-
fection for him could hardly submit to
the sacrifice, for 1t was certain that
he would never return to them, after
leaving. So the bishop left without
him. But Father NORM, purpose
once formed, never quit, He spent
two months at his home and finally
received the consent of his father, and
set out Immediately for this country
He never saw France again
Comes to Southwest.
At that time Bishop Machebeuf
who had been appointed the first
bishop of Denver, Colo, was also in
France gathering recruits, and with
him Father NORM came to the United
States, travelling with him as far as
Kansas City. The bishop put forth
every effort to induce Father NORM
to go on to Denver with him, but he
considered that he was held by prom
Use to the see of Tucson. He there
fore left the bishop at Kansas City
and set out from there by stage, Kan
sas City being then the terminus Of
the railroad
On arriving at Albuquerque the
driver of the stage refused to go TAR
ther on account of the reports that
had lust come in of Indian depreda-
tions along the stage route, but Faith
er NORM refused to wait and went on
with another party. On arriving at
Las Cruces they overlook Bishop Sal
pointe and his little band of mission
aries. Just recruited from France.
There were in the party besides the
bishop and Father NORM, Father
Bourga6e, who later became pastor
Of the church in Silver City, later
bishop of Tucson, and finally arch
bishop of Santa Fe, which see he oc-
cupied until the time of his death in
1910; Father Anthony Jovenceau, who
died some years ago; Father John
Chaucot, who died at Tucson, Janu-
ary 81 1911; Father Bernard, who
died in France few years ago, and
Father Andrew Echalier, who is now
parish priest at Dona Ana, Dona Ana
county, New Mexico, and the only
survivor of that heroic band of mis-
sionaries.
served Throughout Southwest
The party arrived at Tucson on the
! first day of February, 1870. After a
few weeks stay in Tucson Father
NORM went to the old mission of Tu-
bac. about seventy-five miles from
Tucson, where he remained about SIX
months, applying himself assiduousy
| to the study OF Engiisn and Spanish.
| While there he contracted malarial
fever and his health became so I'M
| paired that he was compelled TO seek
change of climate. The bishop sent
him to Mesilla, Dona Ana county. Al
that time Dona Ana county was still
! in the see of Durango, Mexico, and
! Father NORM had to wait year III
/ Mesilla before that section was taken
| from the jurisdiction OF the bishop OF
| Durango and turned over to the bish-
Cd of Tucson. Father NORM remain
ed in Mesilla about twelve years,
when he was recalled to Arizona. lie
was pastor at Tombstone but "a few
months when he was appointed wear
| general of the diocese of Tucson.
That was in 1884 In 1889 he resigned
as vicar general on account OF III
health, went to Santa Fe to recuper-
ate. After a stay of six months in
Santa Fe he came to Silver City as
pastor. and had been here ever since,
until he bid his friends farewell on his
| last trip to Ell Paso