El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-29

laity OF the Roman Catholic faith in
EI Paso. long isolated from a con
v-uieut seat OF ecclesiastical au-
rsority
The cathedral was planned for long
before FL Paso became the official
seat of his IorGship, Rt Rev. a T.
Schiller. bishop OF the diocese. or be-
fore the diocese was created. and Tor
many years the members OF the faith
in the city had been working earnestly
surrounding section. The cathedral is
one OF the finest in the west
Keeping pace with the advancement
ot its secular concerns. the rise OF
III Paso in things religious has been
el ually rapid. From a settlement OF
adobe houses. without q church. IN
1881. FL PasO has grown in 81 years 10
be an Episcopal see.
Diocese IL Large.
But sS other cities may claim the
distinction Of having q Catholic bish-
op. Bishop Schuler is the head Of q
Tremendous diocese 10000 square
miles in area and composed Of $1,000
souls, 90 priests, 70 churches. and 81
missions with hospitals, academies
parOchiaI schools in charge Of the
members Of various orders Of religious
women
To many it seems strange TO have
Into the Society OF Jesus. bishop
Schiller rehnquished all claim TO &c
clesiastIcal preferment- However. the
holy father insisted upon bishop
Schuler's accepting the position
His lOrdship was born at St Mary's,
Teunsylvania. in September, 1869. In
1877 the Schulers removed TO George
town, Colorado Not long after this.
the head Of the family died The boy
was taken IN hand by father Matt,
Gow bishop Of Denver, who gave him
his early education. The thoughts OF
rhe young man, because Of the asso- ,
citation. naturally turned toward
At the close Of a mission given by
the Jesuit fathers in St AIMS church,
Denver. his career was determined
finally. for at this mission he de-
termined 10 become a priest Of the /
Began PriestIy Life in 1855.
Bishop Schiller went 10 Florissant /
Missouri, in December 1855 10 begin I
his life as priest After spending 1
four years at that place, he went TO /
ST. Louis. where he studied philosophy
and the sciences for three years. Then I
he was appointed project and teacher 4
At Sacred Heart college, Denver for .
five years
the famous college OF woodstock /
Maryland. followed his stay at Sacred I
Heart college. At the conclusion OF .
this course he received the Sacrament Z
Of Holy Orders, and the renowned ]
cardinal 8Iartineli ordained him as .
priest in June, 1901
The intervening years were spent I
in Denver, where he rose gradually I
from nrefect Of Sacred Heart college /
10 rector Of that institution. Sew /
eral years ago he was in FL PasO as /
assistant priest at the Church Of the ]
Immaculate Conception He also at ]
that time acted as chaplain Of Hotel ]
Dieu. where he won many friends and .
brought many converts into the I
Conseerated Bishop In 1913
He was consecrated bishop OF Fl
Pas0 by arch bishop Pitaval OF Santa
Fe at the cathedral at Denver, OctO-
Der .. 1873 Present 10 witness inc
gorgeous ceremony were seven
bishops. about 100 priests, and more
than 1000 OF the laity. Shortly after
wards he came TO FL Paso TO assume
the duties Of this Episcopal see
His first few months in II PaSO
were spent by his lordship with the
sisters at Hotel Dieu, acting once
more as q chaplain Later the old
Kline home at 1914 Mesa avenue was
chosen as the episcopal residence,
where the bishop now makes his head
quarters.
ThIrty-six Years OF Catholicism.
Not until October 1881, was there
% Catholic church Of any kind in FL
Paso- Prior to that time those who
wished 10 hear mass on Sunday were
obliged 10 cross the Rio Grande by
ferry TO FL PasO del NOrte, or JuareZ,
as IL is called now.
Jesuit fathers from the mission Of
Colorado and New Mexico were ap-
pointed 10 take charge OF the ancient
parish Of Ysleta and adjacent terri
tory in the United States by bishop
After coming 10 the parish OF
1sleta- the latter began 10 pay visits
70 the few Catholics in the town OF
? rankin. once month he celebrated
the holy sacrifice Of the mass in some
private residence Often the mass
was celebrated in the home Of G.. ".
Emerson and sometimes in the old
Central hotel. where the White house
now stands.
The First Church Here.
The number Of Catholics in Frank
u had SO increased by the summer
Vi 1882 that no house was large
enough 20 accommodate all those de-
ring TO hear mass i. V. BerrlEus (
g.. ". Emerson and Mark Hynes set
10 work and collected nearly enough
money 70 purchase a site and con-
struct q church. Four lots on North /
oregon street, at the head Of Wyom-
ny street were purchased for St25.
On Christmas day, 1882, father Monte
7arelii celebrated the first mass IN ,
The little stone chapel, built upon
Eese lots and dedicated to St Mary. /
Fl PasO Grows in Religion.
The growth Of Catholicism in the I
ity kept pace with its increase in
'oPulation. January I. 1891, the Jesuit
fathers removed their headquarters I
rom Ysleta 10 the little rectory on Z
North Oregon street. At that time : .
Rev Peter Peuella was superior and
'astor.
Father Peneiia was succeeded in
Nay, 1892, by the Rev Charles y. :
Pinto, who remained here until g ]
hort time ago. Father Pinto was I
he local superior Of the Jesuits and :
-icar general to right reverend bishop
anthony 7. Schiller
Father Pinto realized Immediately E
he need Of more church buildings for E
he county OF e Paso. He also re- :
solved 10 separate che mixed Ccngre-
C the chapel. The congregation Sc
.ured ground at the southeast corner
u Myrtle avenue and North Camr
ell street Here the church OF the
Immaculate Conception was built
.arly in 1898.
The Sacred Heart Church.
At about the same time ten lots
N South Oregon street between Sixth
md Seventh streets were purchased.
md upon them was erected the Sacred
Heart church.
The Church Of the Immaculate Con
'eption. only partially completed, be-
,ause Of lack Of funds, was formally
blessed June g 1888. by bishop FitZ-
sersld Of Little Rock
Various priests attended the Church
4 the Immaculate Conception during
he first years Of its existence. In
'eptem bers 1901 Rev Francis c. Roy
vas appointed pastor He has been
o charge Of the parish ever since that
me, excepting about two years, 1915