The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-09-11
Archbishop Ireland Educational Fund
Continued from page -

under Christian direction. The basic
rIouoht OF modem school; is the idea
Of POusSeau that "NaturC IS perfect III
itself: all you have to do fOr a child
is to get out Of its way" AS a result
of this ideal the most inspiring thing
in modern Pedagogical systems is the
freedom for Self-eNpressiOn. But a
Christian has other ideas. The first
idea in the Christian mind is that
of original sin and the tendency to
fail, a tendency that cannot be over
come without outside aid in one form
or another.
There is, therefore, a real place for
the Christian system Of normal train
ing, where the chief stress is Chris
tian. AS for methods, we may copy
them from any lawful source: as for
motive, the chief characteristic Of our
work must tie Christian.
Our teachers frequently receive
large inspiration from nOn-CathClic
sources. This is an imposition on our
Catholic teachers who should be given
Ghe means in a proper Christian at
mosphere TO develop their talents and
qualifications for the work Of educa
ton. Let us not turn to any religi-
Gus community and say: Here are
our schools, you find the money and
the subjects, and then train them"
We should not allow this. 1t is a
real imposition.
High Schools.
A@ain, our children should receive
Catholic high school education. Tho
children are willing to go to such
schools. but the schools themselves
are not sufficiently numerous, and
those in St. Paul, for example, are
aWamped with applications.
About two hundred boys finish the
eighth grade here each year If we
nave not adequate high schools these
boys will become, as in the past, hew
erS Of wood and drawers Of water: and
in that they have done too much in
past years.
In the Country.
With regard to the conditions in
the country there will be a combina
ton Of parishes which would make one
central, strong high school for the
boys and girls in certain groups OF
parishes. The peculiar needs Of such
high school among the rural pOpula
ton would be different in a way from
those Of the cities and would be vel
cared for.
Thus the united high schools nigh
be placed in three groups: those fO1
st. Paul, Minneapolis, and the coun
try districts.
A Native Priesthood.
In this diocese there are about 36I
priests, of who about 800 belong t.
the diocesan clergy. Scarcely on
hundred Of these priests were born i,
this state. This diocese has Gale,
upon nearly all the countries of TIL
world for priests and the call ha
been generously answered. This, how
ever, is not a natural state of affairs
War in Europe has cut the roots o
Vocations. How can a religious o
priestly vocation be developed in cour
tries where conditions as they are tc
day are in state Of upheaval Sue
countries as Germany, Poland, France
Belgium, and other parts of Europ
have lost many priests, and more vocs
tons.
Preparatory Seminary.
A priestly vocation here is Difficult
priests, of whom about 300 belong t
the conditions of life, abnormal pros
perity, countless forms of amusemen
and various other distractions. Ne,
ertheless it can be dore, it must b
done, and it will be done, through
preparatory seminary. The presen
st. Paul Seminary since it's inceptio
has given the fine total of 1873 priest!
but this must be increased.
The late Mr.. Timothy Foley, nj