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Timon returned from Paris to New Orleans on December 21, 1843, bringing both good and bad news: the election of Etienne as General of the Order, and the death of Bishop Rosati, mutual friend and patron of both Timon and Odin. Fortunately for Odin, Timon's presence afforded a second opportunity to discuss questions of mutual interest with the Visitor before he himself returned to Texas. The tentative commitment to establish a Vincentian house in Galveston was confirmed by Timon who promised, against his better judgment, to send Father Collins shortly to Galveston. 51 Odin secured the services of Brother Salvator Vicari, a Neopolitan, twenty-five years of age, who had come from Leghorn, Italy, in 1841, .with a band of volunteers sent by Rosati. He was to keep house and cook for the Bishop-Vicar. Odin was delighted. "A little at home is much more than ever so much among strangers," he wrote jubilantly shortly after his return to Galveston. But Brother Salvator was a hot- headed, intractable creature, who, prior to sailing for Texas with Odin, had fallen out with three other superiors. Within a month he had again lapsed into his evil ways. When reprimanded for his laxity in observing discipline he told the Vicar there was no use, that he could not remain in America. "I must go back to Naples," he said categorically. He agreed to stay long enough to work out the cost of his fare, but demanded a salary of eight or ten dollars a month in addition to his room and board. 52 Odin's return from Baltimore. Odin was agreeably surprised upon his arrival in Texas, late in 1843, to find that his long absence of more than six months had not diminished the fervor of his parishioners. They all appeared to be delighted to see him back and hastened to make their Easter duty. Many came to confession for the first time. Both the High Mass and vesper services on Sunday were crowded. Odin preached in English at both services and Schneider preached in German. Every morning he gave catechetical instructions to twenty-four children. He ex- pected soon to have as many as forty. "Not only Catholics crowd the church, but several Protestants, and all seem to be most attentive to the explanation I give," he wrote Blanc. The number of Catholics in Galves- ton he estimated as seven hundred. One or two additional priests were urgently needed. Ardently he prayed that Timon would not delay ful- filling his promise of sending Collins, and if possible, Edward McGinnis also. 53 51 Timon to Etienne, April 20, 1844, C. A. T. 52 0din to Timon, December 3r, I 843, C. A. T. 53 0din to Blanc, January 8, 1844; Odin to Timon, Decemher 31, 1843, C. A. T.
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