The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-30

church was erected at the cost of $751;
900. In 1851, ST. James hospital was
opened, November Is, with one pa
tic.t, one of the Sisters still doing
work in the community, and who was
taken down with typhoid fever. IAN
attempt was also made in the year of
1883 to establish a Catholic school, but
failed. 1t was no easy matter at this
time to secure Sisters, especially for
teaching purposes; and those who pre-
scented themselves either belonged to
| a kind of a wandering crew upon
which the Church could hardly rely.
| In December, 1885, Father Tremblay
| assumed the place of Father Dolls, who
was granted much needed vacation.
| Father Tremblay's health also gave
out, and one year later, Father Van
de Ven was appointed, and eighteen
months later, Father Desiere became
| his first assistant. Up till now, the
rector had mostly been alone, owing
to the lack of priests in our far West.
Ever since, one assistant, little lat
er two and sometimes three were al
| lowed to st. Patricks. 1t may seem
| impossible to enter into details about
the work of those Reverend Fathers;
the more so that most of them remain
ed only short time, being needed in
other fields. 1t is pleasant to record
that some have done most efficient
work and that most of them have
earned the gratitude of the flock. AL
most everyone was only taken away
to become rector of other parishes,
five OF them being appointed in our
own community A Catholic school in
miniature was held in the old church
building, especially as a preparation
for first Communion. A lay teacher
was at first in charge; later two or
three Sisters of Charity took up the
work with about 100 pupils. In 1889,
st. Patrick's school was erected, a
credit. to our community The ground
with several houses built thereon and
the splendid construction cost not less
than $4,000, Unhappily, like in many
: big undertakings, a sad coincidence
came up to mar the joy of the enter
prise. The structure was primarily
intended for two-story building and
basement. Whilst the work was going
, on, number of members of the con-
| gregation and especially the signers of
, the notes, rather against the wish of
, the Father, prevailed to add a third
story. This increased the original cost
a good many thousand dollars, for ma,
I | terial was dear. and labor high. 1t
: was deemed advisable to conceal this
: increase from the Bishop, in the hope
, that fairs and other money-raisine
. means would easily cover up the eX
. ira expense The additional interest
\ on borrowed money also was to be
s kept secret; and as money was Dor
\ rOwed at 8 per cent, this in short
q time made an increase of Indebtedness
OF $4,000, which also was kept secret
The worry of this affair, together with
the growing parish work and the un
> healthy conditions Of the city, caused
by the heavy fumes of the shelters
b seemed to undermine the rector's
y health; and in the beginning of 1898
+ he was allowed trip to Europe, an(
t Father Desiere was to take his place
y The situation became at once very
l. embarrassing. Just after his prede
3 cessor had left, the fact became known
e that the debt amounted to SAT 300, in
g stead of $4,000, as the people all, as
S well as the Bishop, had been lead tt
" believe. This created a general dis
y content and checked for time all de
e velopments in church building. Hi!
5 Eminence Mgr. Saboll, on his mem
s orable visit in June, 1893, forbade an!
It money to be used except in paying
Il off the debt. This was. extremely
t slow work, owing to the sad feeling
II and also the $4,000 interest to be paiC
o every year. In the beginning of 1896
n a pleasant reaction set in Spurret
5 on by the aggressiveness of the o. P
r AS who insisted on buying our pa
J. rochial school; encouraged by the &C
e ton of Marcus DAILY who assumed the
r collection of nearly half the indebted
= ness from his employees, the people
S forgot all discomfort, and in exactly
It three months time, the whole deb
/ was N1DCu OuL, i1S SlCol DdldACt
d of $4,000 in the treasury. The congre
e cation was jubilant, many outsiders
n who had contributed to the splendid
o result shared in the good feeling; ant
y the Bishop, to show his appreciation
l. to the people and friends, raised st
e Patrick's to a rectorship. Meanwhile
e Catholicity was growing and the neet
r. became urgent of larger accommoda
It tions; still just after paying the heavy
$ debt, it seemed impossible to meel
o any large expense the more SO thai
t no one would be found to go security
|, after the late unpleasant experience
} At an immense meeting held in the
r church on Sunday, October 20, 1896
5 it was unanimously decided to enlarge
+ st. Patrick's to it's present proportions
j. and by Christmas of the same year the
/ remodeled church was occupied
t Three months later, st. Lawrence
r parish was organized and nine months
= thereafter their new church was bless
e ed. The good feeling of the congre
l. cation made itself also felt on school
:, matters. Vast improvements were
t made and several new classes were
r added to the rarochial school, and
a the number of pupils rose from $50 to