The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-12-25
SECOND PRIZE ESSAY
COMPOSITION WRITTEN,BY ALICE
CULHANE OF INCARNATION
SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS, IN RE-
CENT CONTEST ON EDUCATION.
AL FUND-FlRST PRIZE IN SEC
OND GROUP.

"Why the Boys and Girls of the Arch
diocese of st. Paul Should be Inter
ested in the Creation of the Arch
bishop Ireland Educational Fund
This is question of vital impor
lance to all Catholics. There are
many reasons why the boys and girls
of this diocese should be interested in
this wonderful campaign.
In the first place, we Catholics be-
lieve, that our first duty is to God and
the salvation of our souls;'' also that
Gods greatest gift to man is Faith.
We know that there is no better
means Of preserving this Faith than
by q proper knowledge of it. 1t has
been fully demonstrated that this
knowledge is best perfected through
our schools and it is generally conced
ed that an education to be all-round
must be an education that trains the
moral, mental and physical part OF
man.
This is an age of great strife. 1t is
a time when every boy and girl
should be able to give reason fol-
the Faith that is within him." Surely
there never was time when our ma
ton stood in greater need for good
men and good women. We, the chill
dren of today, are to be the citizens OF
tomorrow, and it will be "up to us
to decide the moral and the political
issues of the day. If we are to play
our part we want to be thoroughly
equipped with means for defence and
this of course depends upon our train
ing. Let us not be content with mere
ly an eighth grade training but keep
on until we have received a college
or university education.
This means that we must have not
only enough schools but we must
have the best that can be provided
and equipped with up-to-date methods
and facilities; also strong teaching
force.
Now, then, in order to have all this
means that it is. going to take large
funds. We, therefore, hope our par.
ents will see to 1t that this drive is
most successfully carried out We
hope that they will realize that the
welfare of the Church and State de-
ponds upon their child who has been
properly trained and properly taught
in connection with this there is a
crying demand for normal schools I'M
der Catholic supervision where oul
sisters may attend, getting the neces
sary training without undergoing the
embarrassment of public institutions
From some of the funds collected 6
preparatory seminary is to be erected
where young boys who are inclined
to the priesthood might have their vo
cations fostered. With the erection OF
these schools and colleges we earnest
ly pray that the ranks of our priests
and Sisters will be increased, as the
harvest is great and the laborerE
few"
Now, then, while we boys and girls
are clamoring for the best education
that is obtainable we must not forge
that the greater our opportunities the
greater our responsibilities; it will bt
for us to make our parents, teacher:
| and school proud of us. We shoult
not be satisfied with being just goot
man or woman, or a good friend
but we, want to be a force among ou
| fellowmen. We want to have a voice
| and a big one, in the laws that govern
our land. We want the world to know
that we as Catholics are a cultures
| and refined people. That we are no
mere "hewers of wood and drawers o
water,p but we want our influence t.
be felt everywhere. BY our Thorough
knowledge of our Faith and our gool
example we can do much towards it
spread.
Let our campaign cry be: Hell
morally and financially" this gram
project undertaken by our Most Rev
erend Archbishop. Finally let u
glory in the name of Catholic citizens
|