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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
in the summer of 1825 to build a chapel for his recently founded colony. The request was transmitted to Lobo, Administrator of the Diocese of Monterrey, who, in giving his approval of the project on November 17, lamented his inability to contribute to the project. Construction was immediately begun, and by January of 1826 a petition for sacred vessels and all other necessities was forwarded to Lobo. These the Administrator promised to send as soon as possible. 52 Aboard the two-masted schooner El Caiion there came in June, 1832, a Dominican priest from Ireland to minister to the Irish colony being established on the Nueces. With him were two Sisters, perhaps Dominicans. Alcalde Hernandez called upon Father Muro, still in Goliad, to examine the papers of the new arrivals. Muro found the Dominican's papers in order, but told Hernandez that the papers would have to be forwarded to Lobo, who would issue the necessary faculties to the new arrival. It was agreed to let the Dominican stay in the abandoned chapel of Mission Refugio until word was received from Lobo. The two Conventuals, who had come to establish a school for girls, appear to have been given quarters by some of the recently settled Irish families. 53 Arrival of two nuns and a Dominican priest. Muro leaves Texas. After the secularization of Refugio Father Muro was asked by Lobo to go to Austin's colony to minister to the new set- tlement. Muro so informed the Ayuntaniiento of San Felipe early in 1830, but failing to receive a reply, he addressed himself to Stephen F. Austin on April 13 to inquire whether or not the colony had a church and quarters for him. He requested Austin to send, when proper facilities were furnished, a cart and an escort to take his meager belongings, the sacred vessels and the other things needed for the administration of the Sacraments and the celebration of divine services. Evidently Austin was not ready for a priest at the time, or perhaps he preferred to wait until he could secure one who could speak more English than Father Muro could. Instead of replying to Muro, Austin wrote Musquiz at Bexar in June to report that although his colony con- tinued to prosper and develop, and a new sawmill had just been erected, the church had not yet been built. He assured Musquiz that he was anx- 12 Saucedo to Lobo, December 11, 1825, January 8 and February 10, 18:16, Berar Archives. 53 Juan Jose Hernandez: to Ramon Musquiz:, June 1, 1832, Berar Arcliives. No name was given for any of the three. There is no further mention about them in the archives.
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