The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-07-10
JOSEPH BREIC-
Montana, Room
For Expansion

Bishop William J. Condor of Great Falls remind.
ed me of Father Patrick Peyton, Americas apostle
of the Family Rosary.
Not that Bishop Condor is big like Father PAT.
ne isn't. Not that he has Father Pats brogue; he
hasn't. But he does have the Irish Tilt in his voice.
the Irish delicacy in his heart, and the Irish common
sense and humility in his head. He is a man YOU in
Stantly like and feel comfortable with.
About that Irish lit it is not a matter of the
vocal cords, OF the Irish tenor voice. 1t is a matter of
the irish soul which is extraordinarily sensitive to the
feelings of other human beings. 1t is, as | see il. an
IRISH way OF INJECTING words = of almost singing
them = SO that they fall into ones heart softly.
HIN vi a special appreciation for this
sort OF thing because although | am not entirely with
out irish ancestry, | am predOminantly Scottist. Swiss
and German, and often | could kick myself for the
bluntness with which | express myself = as if daring
any one to have the e%ffrontery to attempt to disagree:
was amazed when Bishop Condor answered
10000" to my question about the number of Cath
Ones In his diocese. Il might as well tell YOU" | said.
that | expected to find that the Catholic population
OF Montana would consist almost exclusively of -
Bishop Condor"
WHAT REALLY FoUND was a thriving diocese
struggling with the same kind of problems as the popu-
lous dioceses of the east = how to provide enough
Catholic schools, including high schools; where to find
more priests and Sisters; how to keep Catholics close
to the Church - and how to meet the growing demand
of jealous Catholics for Catholic thought, Catholic chi.
ture and the S~acraments.
In Helena, Mont and in Cheyenne. Wyo., we saw
lie same heart-stirring spectacle to which we are be-
~ F1A LII lh0 AllI1NA III f1I11
erica tWo-thlrdS or more of the congregation on
Sunday thronglng to the railing while every available
priest distributes Communion.
N OF BISHOP CONDONtS most treasured
memories was of a visit to his diocese some years ago
by the late, salnted Samuel Cardinal Stritch of Chi.
cago. He told of Cardinal Stritch's delight at being
caught III a summer Sn0Wstorm on a high mountain
pass, and being photographed in the snow wearing a
straw hat. Cardinal Strich was fascinated with Mon
tana as who would not be? S.
Bishop Condor wondered whether his diocese
would grow, There is room in Montana for millions
of people but the winters are hard. With bowling
winds and huge snowdrifts. suggested to him that
he might be reckoning without atomic and nuclear
power.
suppose / sounded fanciful when | remarked that
the time is coming when snow will be forbidden to fall
on cities. How about countless" Bishop Condor
wanted to know. Never mind, | argued we have
only the faintest intimation of the wonders that UNI
limited and cheap power and heat will bring into the
world.
COULD SEE that Bishop Condor preferred, with
both episcopal and Irish practicality, to address him.
sell to the problems of the here and now. If science
is to transform Montana, some other bishop will be
there to see it.
He received us in his new chancery building.
which is also his residence. 1t is a highly intelligent
blend OF utility and beauty. Under a brilliant moon.
with the planet Venus brilliantly blue-green in the
spanking clean air, Bishop Condor showed us from
our car windows a couple of parish centers with fine
new schools. -
The cathedral is an older building, solid and state
ly. jimmy %Broderick, with the instincts of an artist.
wanted to see the interior. Bishop Condor apologized:
the doors had been locked at 10 pm. Don't YOU have
a key?' asked Jimmy. Bishop Condor admitted that
he hadn't.