The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-23
Pioneer Priest
Adds Volume to
State History
Father Palladino Confined in
Hospital but Refuses to
Stop Writing Thorough
Book on West.

In the evening Of life which has
been crowded with adventurous self
sacrifice and devotion to his religion,
Fatter L. b. Palladino. pioneer Nom
tana missionary. is preparing for pub
licatiOn book which will be an inn
pOrtant addition to the scant store Of
Montana history.
In his room at st. Ptarick's hospi-
tai. where he has been confined since
a recent illness compelled him to aban-
don active service in st. Francis
Xavier's. Father Palladino is writing a
thorough history to he placed beside
his "Indian and White in the North
west" one Of the NEST reliable and
most interesting compilations of north
west American history.
First Came Here in 1862.
Father Palladino first came to west
ern Montana in 1867, after four years
espent in Catholic college teaching in
california. He was then missionary
on the Jocko reservation. carrying his
religion to an Indian country ut that
time hardly known to whites
The fruits Of his devotion in those
pioneer years are still evident on the
Flathead reservation.
Later Father Palladino went to Hell
ena. and superintended the construc-
tion Of the cathedral there. In 1888 he
was transferred to St. Francis Xavier's
in Missoula. Later he was president
Of GOnzaga college in Spokane, and aft
er his service there he again assumed
the passionate here for a time.
Was Born in Italy.
Among the many members of the
Catholic priesthood who have lived and
labored in Montana and who are still
with us. there Is none who has given
more thought and study to the lives
and labors Of the early missionaries
among the Indians, more careful con-
sideratiOn to the character and needs
of these wards Of the government in
later years. and who is more Of an au-
thority in Indian history of the north
west than Father Palladino.
Lawrence Benedict Palladino is a
native of Tilicto. small village in the
Apennines, some 80 miles from the
beautiful and historic old city Of Ge-
noa. Italy. where he was born on the
18th OF August, 1887. being the son of
Julius and Magdalene Ricci) Palla-
dino. This worthy couple had four. sons
and three daughters. Two of the boys
entered the priesthood, whilst two of
the girls consecrated their lives to re-
ligon by joining Catholic sisterhoods.
To America in 1863.
Father Palladino made his early
studies in Italy and France in the col
leges Of the Society Of Jesus, Of which
he became pember in 1855. 1mme-
diately after his ordination to the
priesthood. which took place at Nice
in May, 1863, he came to America and
was first located at Santa Clara col
lege in California. Later he was pro-
fessor of Latin and Greek in the Col
lege Of st. Ignatius at San Francisco.
In 1867. he came to western Mon
tana, then under the spiritual jurisdic-
ton of the archbishop of Oregon, and
was assigned to missionary work on
the Jocko Indian reservation. The six
years spent here We're filled with un-
wavering zeal and devotion for the
spiritual and bodily welfare of the In
dams.
Built Helena Cathedral.
His next appointment was to Helena,
where the newly organized parish af-
forded him ample scope for the exercise
of his marked execution ability as well
as his functions as priest. During
his pastorate the church edifice, which
afterwards became the pro- cathedral
Of the diocese was erected Father
PalladinO was in charge of the Helena
parish until 1883, when the Rt. Rev.