The Irish standard., 1916-10-14

lS1actOry results IN the changed con-
ditions of today. In spite of the heroic
self sacrifice of the missionaries it
does not develop a sturdy, intelligent
Catholic spirit, it does not afford the
rising generation sufficient knowl-
edge of their religion, it does not give
permanency to the work of the church,
nor does it bring all the church's en-.
ergies into action. An old settler ex-
pressed his estimate of it when he
said: 1T is next to nothing"
Pastorless Communities DecIine-Not
Attractive to Homeseekers.
Unfortunate as is churchless COM
munity, more pitiable is a pastorless
one. Experience shows that missions
in which five, ten, fifteen, twenty fami-
lies live and which itinerant priests
attend at long intervals do not in
crease, but as a rule decrease for the
reason that in addition to those who
cease to go to church and who lose
the faith, others DESTROYS of enjoying
better facilities for practicing their re-
ligion move to other places in which
more favorable church conditions ex-
list. Nor do such communities grow
by accretion. Land agents inform me
that localities which are not blessed
with resident pastors are Stunned by
prospective Catholic settlers who have
families to rear. A short time ago in
one of our towns in which mass is cels.
brated but once in six weeks on a
weekday a well-to-do farmer from an
other state who was contemplating tho
purchase of land in the vicinity said
to me: Bishop, there is q farm in
this neighborhood which l can buy at
bargain, but how soon may we ex-
pect to have mass here on Sundays?"
On being informed that it would not
be possible in the near future his re-
mark was: Il regret that l cannot
locate here. AS l have young fam.
lily of six children l am not going to
run the risk of bringing them up in
these surroundings" And he went
away to look for a home elsewhere.
His case may be taken as typical of
a class.
Our state with it's fertile soil, its
healthful climate, it's wealth of min
eral resources has many attractions
for the homeseeker. Thousands of
acres of rich, low-priced land lie un-
titled awaiting inhabitants who will
appreciate its value and bring it under
cultivation. But it will not be so for
long. 1t is safe to predict that the
development of this favored region
will be very rapid during the coming
few years. Each year the tide OF
immigration brings to us a new popu-
lation Of which Catholics constitute no
inconsiderable portion. Is it not our
solemn duty to provide the blessings
of religion for those in whose hearts
the seed Of faith was planted by other
hands and who now choose to cast
their lot with us? Without priests
they will not remain with us. Are we
to allow all this unsurpassed agri-
cultural country to be peopled by those
who will naturally keep it outside the
pale Of the wholesome influence of
the church? Blameworthy would we
be If we were so unconcerned abou.
the future prosperity of those of the
household of the faith as not to exert
our best efforts to render it possible
for them to take advantage of the ex-
ceptional opportunities now present
ing themselves.
Tho harvest indeed is ripe, and the
demand for laborers is notably greater
than the supply. Twice our present
number could now be assigned to grow
ing places which unfortunately must
be left without them. In view Of this
deplorable scarcity of priests it be.
hooves lis to apply ourselves with all
our energies to the task of supplying
the deficiency. To accomplish this re-
suit it is imperative that we add large
ly to our list Of students both in the
college department and in the semi
nary. Every effort made to swell the
ranks Of the clergy is a step in the
direction of more intense parish life.
Every new parish that is formed be.
comes a center of greater Catholic
vitality and wider influence, and the
nucleus of flourishing congregation.
Plans to Multiply Parishes.
1t is my intention to take for in
stance promising mission in which
there are about twenty families and
to make 1t parish in which mass will
be celebrated every Sunday. To 1t
will be attached two smaller congrega-
tions in each of which the faithful will
be given the opportunity of hearing
mass twice month on Sundays. Thus
in short while the number of resi-
dent pastors will be augmented, the
facilities for Divine worship will be
improved, parish life will be nurtured,
fallen away Catholics will be enticed
back to the fold, the faithful members