Читать книгу Mission Work among the Negroes and the Indians - Catholic Church. Commission for Catholic Missions among the Colored People and the Indians - Страница 4

Table of Contents

The communications we publish from Bishops who receive aid from the annual collections for our Negro and Indian missions, show very simply and forcibly the importance and needs of this work. Passages from the letters of Archbishop Janssens, of New Orleans, of Bishop O’Sullivan, of Mobile and of Rev. Father Molony of the diocese of San Antonio, may help to answer a question as to the ultimate outcome of what is being done, that doubtless arises in many minds.

The Archbishop says:

“In another portion of the diocese, at Grossetete Bayou, there is a somewhat similar settlement of negroes, who before the war were sold in Maryland, to Louisiana Protestant planters. The history of their trials for religion, their constancy to the faith, would embellish a page in the history of the Martyrs of the Church. Much is said of the inconsistency of the negro, but my experience convinces me, that when the negro has been brought up in the knowledge and practice of religion, he is as constant as any white Catholic under the circumstances. Bad training and ignorance degenerate their mind and heart, as it does with the white population. We are trying to raise means to build a church for that settlement. I regret very much that the Commission has been obliged to diminish the allocation. Our work is increasing and the funds diminishing. May the Lord provide some other means.”

Bishop O’Sullivan writes:

“We receive very few adult converts from among the colored people. However, the proportion of colored converts is equal to the number of white converts. Hence, there is no reason why we should look upon the conversion of the colored people as hopeless; on the contrary the outlook is encouraging. If we plant the good seed, our successors will reap a rich harvest. The Catholics in the South are so few, that it is impossible for them to supply missionaries and means to carry on the work. Help must come from outside. May God bless all who help this mission.”

Rev. R. J. Molony writes: “Our work in this diocese is assuming a brighter look. God has blessed it this year beyond our most sanguine expectations. Our experience of the past did not inspire much hope. Since the foundation of the mission in 1888, our colored people have stood aloof and looked on our labors with cold indifference. They seemed to assume an attitude of distrust. Within the present year we have noticed a change in their behavior towards the mission and the Catholic church. Now they approach with more confidence. The better class, the religiously disposed, receive religious instruction. They begin to appreciate the intellectual and moral improvement of the children who attend our schools.”

The amount received from the annual collection was in

1887	$81,898.01
1888	76,175.30
1889	69,637.68
1890	70,461.87
1891	63,386.84
The receipts for 1892 to date stand	66,068.09

In 1887 thirty-one dioceses received help from this fund and forty-six in 1892.

The following Pastoral Letter issued last year by the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Louisville, sets forth strongly and earnestly the claims of the Negro and Indian Mission work on our sympathy and generous aid.