The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-08
LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
Continued from page 81

their new masters, and Catholics of
the United States have left the poor
Filipino Catholics, to be victimized by
all the Clements of evil and irreligion.
Needless to say, the change was too
sudden, but | do not wish to dwell
on this point in this paper.
What | wish to draw your attention
to now, is this heroic attempt, made
by these Filipino ladies themselves, to
stem the tide of irreligion And don't
you think that since it was the Unit
ed States that deprived them of the
motherly care and love of Spain, these
devoted ladies have some claim to be
assisted by the mOtherly care of the
good American Catholics? | do not
doubt the answer that will we'll up
from the warm heart Of faith of Amer
leans. The case has not been put UP
TO them; it has been neglected in the
rush of life.
But why do l interest myself in
these good ladies'? Ii is because it
was | myself who persuaded them to
launch out on the project. They are
my parishoners.
And what is their object?
They have banded themselves to-
gether and formed a society to give
their lives to saving the faith of their
countrymen by establishing a native
Teaching society, which win recruit
teachers to take charge of Catholic
parochial schools. Their present
plans extend to the including of a
mems branch. The success or fail
ure will depend upon the fostering
care of YOU YOURSELF. l say
YOURSELF designedly, because you
are one of large community that
could help powerfully, if each and ev-
eryone would help and not pass the
helping role to the OTHER MAN.
And what have they done so far?
They have plodded along now for
fourteen years without your even
. knowing of their existence.
They have conducted the Catholic
School of Maasin for fourteen years,
and have an attendance of 700. Ow-
ing to their work, the Mission has a
daily Communion of 400.
They have been doing this work
without any help except what | could
afford to give them, and this has been
sadly inadequate. Lack of food has
caused four Of them to lay down their
lives, victims OF tuberculosis. 1t is
seldom that they get substantial food.
Lack of clothing has exposed them to
the deluging of tropical rains through
out six months of each year. 1t is
much if they can renew their clothing
every two years. They never use
shoes or stockings. They can't af-
ford them.
And all this time they have been
giving classes morning and after.
noon, and at the same time pursuing
their own studies. None Of the four
victims left her work except to die.
Are they worthy of assistance in
this gallant effort to strike out for
themselves? Would to God your an.
swer were affirmative and solidly
practical 7 am trying to set them on
strong financial basis. I am bound
to stand by them and not abandon
them until they are strong.
| invite correspondence. You may
inquire of me from the Catholic
Church Extension Society, Chicago
or from the Propagation of the Faith
Boston.
You nav reach me whilst 7 am in
the United States by addressing: Rev.
w. Cain, care of Rev Edward Casey
St Thomas College, ST. Paul, Mimi.
MY address in the Philippines is:
Rev. w. CAIN.
Maasin (via Cabatuan),
Iloilo, Philippines