The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-02-03

received his appointment to the
Patna mission, which Is stated
by the Chicago province Of the So
ciety Of Jesus. Majoring in philoso-
ply and theology in houses Of study
at Schembagannur and Kurseong,
India, Father Loesch was ordained
to the Priesthood In Indian in 1881.
Population Is Vast
In this mission there Is popula-
ton Of 30 million people, and were
all Of these people ready for con-
version to Christianity, the task
would be so vast that the entire or
ganization OF the church in the
United States would not suffice to
handle 1t.
When the American Jesuits went
to this mission there were $500 In
dian Christians and 1900 Anglo-In-
dian Christians. Since 1928 these
numbers have been increased to
10000, most Of the converts among
the aboriginal tribe called Santals
and among Hindu depressed class
es.
At the present time possibilities
of conversion on a very large scale
are unique, says Father Loesch
The depressed classes are more and
more becoming inclined to abandon
the Hindu religion enmasse, and
wherever Catholic missionaries con-
tact them, mass conversions invar-
iably follow.
Thirty-six priests are engaged In
missionary and educational work
in Patna at the present time. Oh
these five are secular priests, the
rest Jesuits. There are 60 American
priests attached to the Patna mis-.
sion and 80 who have been admit
ted to the Society from India. With
the exception of two, all Of these
are native sons Of India.
Earthquake Takes Toll
In 1894 the Patna mission suffer
ed a severe earthquake which prac'
tically destroyed all Of the churches
and mission stations north OF the
Ganges river. This calamity neces
sarily retarded considerably pro
gress in erection of new mission
stations. Wherever new expansion
has taken place in the line OF con
versions, the mission has not beer
able to provide adequate buildings
to house the Missionaries, who are
at present living in mud huts under
very trying conditions.
The climate of Patna Is particu
larly trying on account OF the ex
treme heat and high humidity fol
seven or eight months Of the year
From November through February
the climate rivals that Of California
Since entering the Patna mission
American Jesuits have opened
large high school for education Of
Catholic boys. $50 now enrolled
Sisters of the Holy Cross nave op
ened a similar school for girls
There are four middle Englisf
schools which correspond to thu
American grade schools, with 100'
children enrolled. One hundred ant
Is lower primary schools have beer
opened in the villages where ther'
are converts. The mission has re
Gently opened a Normal trainin,
school for the purpose Of forming
future village teachers and cate
chists.
Form Native Priesthood
In India the Society Of Jusus ha
three novitiates, one school o
, philosophy, two houses Of theolog
for the formation Of fortign Jesui
missionaries and the native Jesuit
admitted to the Society from India
Recently Father Loesch opene,
| in Patna a new home Of the So
ciety with a view of providing
home for missionaries when the.
return to Patna on business from
mission stations and for the pur
pose Of furthering the cause o
higher education of Behari Indial
Catholics. A hall has been openet
where these students attending Pat
ma university reside. In the nea
future high school will be openet
to care for the education Of Indiai
Catholics.
In addition to his mother Fathe
Loesch has one brother and fiv'
sisters to greet him. The sisters ar,
Mrs. Frank Rausch, st. Cloud; Mrs
Rose Holthaus, Buffalo; Mrs. Mar!
Pelzer, Pearl Lake; Clara and Alni,
Loesch, Chicago; and the brother Il
George Loesch, of Pearl Lake.