The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-10-09

Quoting, let us say, three sessions a
year with two week vacation periods
and economizing time as far as may
be to which all communities may send
their subjects with equal rights for
ALL since it will be diocesan institu-
ton. and not the property Of any re-
igious community The diocese would
furnish the first cost of the building
and! if possible, an endowment that
would reduce the cost of tuition to the
communities. Such a school would
give an immense impetus to the Chris
tian character of our work and would
provoke that distinctly Catholic con-
tribution to pedogogics in general
which is rarely found in our work. |
have no doubt that school of this
description, properly equipped and
stated, would find ready recognition
from our State educational authorities
and | am sure that it would be of the
greatest value for all our schools.
/ High Schools.
To study our school situation is i'm
possible unless you pay attention to
the work of high schools. There are
problems for the cities and problems
for the country. Both should be con-
sidered now and funds obtained that
will materially assist in their resolu-
ton. Perhaps the country high
schools by groups can, with diocesan
aid, hit upon strategic points for cen
Trailing and improving their work.
A very general feeling throughout the
educational world maintains that in
all our systems, our children are re-
tarded and begin high school too late.
An equally strong sentiment claims
that the high school work in country
places units children for country life.
Considerations like these must be
carefully weighed and while nothing
is done to lesson interest in the life
of the farm, every encouragement
must be given to the continuation of
school work beyond the elementary
grades.
A Preparatory Seminary.
A very generous patron Of Chris
tian education, now gone to his eter-
nal reward, has given the sum OF
100000 for the building of a prepar.
atory college for candidates for the
priesthood on condition that we raise
the sum of $150,000 in cash before
August, 1921. The need of such q
college has long been recognized, In
this country, vocations must be care
fully cultivated and the ecclesiastical
spirit developed at very early stage
This diocese has depended on other
countries and other parts for its
priests. Perhaps not more than a
third of the priests in the diocese
were born in Minnesota. We have nc
| more diocesan students in st. Pau
| Seminary in 1920 than there were in
1896. With all our schools and religi
GUS activities, We should have many
more applications and not only that
but we should be supplying the dio
ceses of the Northwest with our sur
plusage. This proposition which has
| made SO strong an appeal to oul
priests will doubtless make an equally
strong appeal to our people. 1t is one
| that will involve much larger sum
| than the amounts named but whatever
| it will be, l feel confident it will be
readily met.
The Catholic People Must Be CuI
tured People.
Catholics are frequently sensitive
| about the position that they hold ir
the community, taxing the Sights be
| slowed upon themselves and the in
| suits to their religion to the bigotry
| and prejudice of their neighbors. They
might very profitably consider tina
these irritating experiences are as
much due to their own Indifference t.
higher education as they are to any
thing else We have been here a:
| long as anybody else. We have mum
| bers, we have means and we have
| spirit but we have not influence ant
we have not the Catholic sense O
things. Others who came later have
outstripped us because they have a
an early date seen that through the
| wide open door of education lies the
path of permanent influence in thu
community. We have thought tina
our priests should be educated men
We knew that professional men need
ed professional training but we have
! paid little or no attention to culture
as such and we need not be surprised
if we are an unconsidered element o
our communities. But surely our da,
is coming. Unless we give up GU
Faith, we shall have to fight for it il
days not far distant with keen, elo
/ quent tongues, with well trained
minds, with the influence that ou
character, our position and our Cath
Ollie philosophy of life will command
Where are we to get these things
not in Catholic colleges?
Our Colleges.
Now we have two colleges in thi
archdiocese, one for men, st. Thomas
and another for women, ST. Cath
crimes, that are integral parts of gu
diocesan system. They have come t
! this day without ever having made al
appeal to the diocese for assistanc
because they have managed to get o.
in the small way to which all our Cath