The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-16

and left because of failing health.
Reverend p. De Siere assisted at Deer
Lodge from March, 1886, until he was
appointed pastor of Anaconda. From
1900 until 1910, Fathers Stack, Phe-
Ian, Foley, Mccormack and Landy
were in turn assistants at Deer Lodge.
ST. Joseph's hospital and st. Mary's
academy in Deer Lodge are two in
situations for which the clergy and.
laity of the diocese owe a debt of
gratitude to Father De Ryckere.
st. Joseph's hospital conducted by
the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth,
was opened sin a log cabin in 1873,
while suitable building was in the
course of erection. In 1874, the
large frame structure was complet-
ed where for many years mems
shattered bodies and weakened souls
received that care and attention
few of them experienced since
leaving their parental homes. The
hospital was appreciated by Cath
Ollie and non-Catholic, Jew and Pagan
all were assured that the Sisters
life work was to alleviate their pains.
Later brick structure replaced the
frame and for some years sheltered
a host of patients suffering from di-
vers diseases. Today, a large modern
hospital, still under the patronage Of
St. Joseph, is carrying on the pur-
pose of the Sisters of Charity who a
half century ago laid the first stone
of an institution which eclipses in
equipment and nursing facilities hos
pitfalls more widely advertised.
The first building of st. Mary's
academy was commenced by Father
De Ryckere in 1878 and was contin-
| ued at intervals until the completion
in 1881 at a cost of $1,000. His am
bition was to have a Catholic school
| chiefly for the country children.
Hence his purpose in erecting a board
ing school. He had considerable diff
| ficulty in persuading the Sisters OF
J Charity of Leavenworth to take over
the building but he finally succeeded
in persuading Mother Josephine tc
| consent. Sister Evangelista Wynn, as
first Superior, with four Sisters open
ed the school in September, 1882, with
an enrolment of seventeen boarders
and twelve day scholars. The music
| classes from the first were most pop
| ular and attracted number of young
girls to the school. The enrolment
1890 when forty boarders under crowd
ed conditions filled the building tC
Overlooking. Sister Evangelista, still
in charge, erected a new wing larger
than the original and had it ready fol
occupancy in September, 1891 This
too, by 1900, became Inadequate to &C
commodate the pupils: Another ad
dition was erected, and the entire
building remodeled. Since its foun
dation, it has kept pace with othe1
institutions of the state in point O.
educational progress and claims {
representative Alumnae among the
Sisters of Charity of L3eayenworth
Until 1913, the curriculum embraced
the elementary and high schoo
courses. That year, on account O.
the dearth of teachers and of a stuff
cient number of high school pupil.
to justify the community in keepinE
the number of teachers required b.
the State Board of Education for al
accredited high school, the high schoo
was discontinued The grade or ele
mentary school carries the STANDARD
course with special attention to tn.
cultural training of the pupils. TIL,
genial home-like spirit of the children
and the maternal care of the Sisters
is still, as of yore, the distinguishing
characteristic of st. Mary's academy
Father De Ryckere saw the little
mustard seed planted, struggle fo
existence and develop into a sturd,
tree upon whose branches ''the birds
Ibis co-laborers and successors, res
and reap the reward His longing tt
see his mother once more was neve1
gratlfied. Just as he was emergins
from the debt hanging over him for 81
many years, he received the news O.
her death. That his grief and dis
appointment were intense was man
ifest whenever he spoke of her. How
ever, in 1886, the first time since his
ordination, he visited his fatherland
bringing with him on his return the
revered and sanity Monsignor Dc
Siere. Again in 1906, accompanied by
| the Monsignor, he visited the scenes
of his youth. These visits only EN-
| phasized the dream of his life-to
spend his declining years in the land
of his birth and to be inferred with
his mother. In 1910, feeling that his
| apostolic career was ended and en-.
| feebled by years of exposure and suf.
fering, he resigned and crossed the
| seas. Although almost a stranger
| among his own, he seemed quite con-
tented until the Germans invaded Bel
GUM in 1914. In 1921, Very Reverend
A. R. Coopman visited Belgium and
brought back the welcome news that
Father De Ryckere was not molested
by the Germans and that he died COM
fortably. situated in May, 1916. A
plain wooden cross marks his grave
awaiting the time when a suitable
monument will be erected to his mem
ory
The history of CathoIicity in Deer
Lodge and in the adjacent territory
is linked with the life and labors of
that most humble and unassuming of
men, whose unimpeached character
through the perilous years of young