The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-31

ton, which has been provided with
church wherein they may worship
God. Before the erection OF this little
chapel the congregation had to hold
services in the schoolhouse.
Although for ten years l have min
istered to the spiritual wants of the
Catholic people in this section OF
Wyoming, i am not complaining when
/ say that at times my heart turns to
the green lands of my native Holland
where, with the good things OF earth,
there also fiourishes Catholic life In
all it's beauty and comfort.
The State of Wyoming seems to I'M
press very few people. Judging from
the remarks of Eastern travellers, OF
all sorts and descriptions, the State
seems to make on them an even worse
impression than it really deserves. A
sight of lonely cabin will invariably
bring forth the remark that it's owner
need have no fear that his neighbor
will jump his claim, intimating, with
little or no delicacy, that he has moth
ing worth jumping on The sight OF
the cattle and sheep grazing on the
hillside works on the sympathy OF the
tourist and he wonders how even a
jackrabbit could manage to get liv-
ing. The next fellow will go him one
better by saying that the federal au-
thorities at Washington ought to buy
the whole State-for song, OF course
and exploit it as a national grave
yard-the only thing that it seems to
be fit for. But the native is always
recognized in the fellow who insists
that Wyoming has nice climate;
sometimes this remark contains truth,
and sometimes it possesses other quail
tiles.
No matter from which point one
views this Wyoming scenery, l admit
it does look most dreary. The federal
government, and even the Church au-
thorities, have, in drawing it's boun-
daries, treated both the State and do
cese as traditional stepmother. The
Catholic population, amounting to
$4,000 souls, good, bad and Indifferent,
are attended to by only twenty priests.
And remember, please, that these
$4,000 Catholics are scattered over an
area of 100000 square miles.
At first sight the number of priests
seems inadequate, but saner second
thought proves that it would indeed
require careful figuring to see how
more could be taken care of, unless
our Catholic missions, like the Protes-
tant churches, had the benefit of a
diocesan fund from which our priests
in poor places could be supported
My parish here covers several hun
| dred miles, but outside of the city
limits of the towns where minister,
| | do not know of even one practical
| Catholic family in the whole of my
territory. Thermopolis and Pine
Bluffs are the two biggest, but also the
two hardest and poorest places in the
diocese. They are really missionary
parishes.
There is much foundation for the
belief that Wyoming is rich in min
erals, coal and oil. This, together
/ Will II 1ISdCIOu plOJCCIO, Will UC LuC
only means of developing the State,
The discovery of oil around Casper
will make that the most flourishing
town, and consequently the most
fiourishing parish, in the State.
These new irrigation projects need
and deserve the careful attention OF
the Catholic colonization societies, for
the settling of the individual Catholic
farmer is more likely to prove curse
rather than a blessing, both to him
and his family.
| Il Our people should take lesson
from the Mormons, who have colo
nized western and northwestern wy
oming, almost to the exclusion of any
other people They have settled in
sufficient numbers to bring with them
their bishops and to establish schools
and churches. Their children, it is
more than likely, will continue to prac
tice that system of religion; for they
have had every chance to have it in
grained into their very souls. 1t is
only another case where the children
of darkness have been wiser than the
children of light.
In the smaller towns we have an
other obstacle with which to contend
Many of the inhabitants, including moi
a few Catholics, consider it necessary
to decorate themselves with a pin OF
button indicating their utilization with
one or the other of the secret societies
condemned by the Church. And, as
we missioners know only too well
this is an obstacle which keeps both
him and his family in the ranks OF the
"fallen-aways." This condition forms
a heavy cross for the priest who is
anxious to win all men to Christ anC
His Church.
Some time ago, through the pages
Of Extension Magazine, different mis-
sionary priests expressed what, in
their opinions, was the hardest thing
in their missionary life. There were
of course, as many opinions as there
|.were minds and dispositions. Viewing
my missions from a dispassionate
standpoint, can say that to me the
hardest things are the decided lack Of
prfestly work, together with lack Of