97
Texas into a Vicariate made necessary an understanding with regard to the property rights of the Vincentians. Timon found conditions in Galveston were quite satisfactory. The economic crisis that had plagued Texas was passing. The old settlers were solvent again. A spirit of optimism reigned and the future looked bright in January, 1845. In spite of war, want, poverty, and sickness much progress had been made by the renascent Church. The priests were held in high esteem everywhere and Odin was loved and respected by everybody. His ardent zeal, his devotion to service, and his gentle charity had endeared him to Catholics and Protestants alike. From Odin the Visitor learned of the commendable work being done in distant San Antonio. Fathers Calvo and Estany and Brother Sala were daily growing in piety. The yellow fever epidemic had been a heavy blow to the people as well as to the clergy, but Timon found that Brands was better than ever. The year 1844 had been a fruitful one. The little band of mission- aries, led by their zealous Vicar, had absolved 3, I 50 penitents and had given Communion to 2,850. Calvo reported from San Antonio that during his five years in the old metropolis, he had heard over 5,000 con- fessions and had given Communion to more than 4,000. 70 Reporting on the state of the Vincentians in the Texas mission, the Visitor admitted that Calvo and Estany had not been living in com- munal life as provided by the rules .of their Congregation. He explained that, although this was a deplorable situation, it was best to make no change at this time. Timon already envisioned the erection of Texas into a diocese under a titular bishop. "Independently of our Congrega- tion," he pointed out, "the incumbent, whether he be Mgr. Odin or another, will enlarge his personnel and gradually relieve our priests of their remote stations. Then, in properly constituted houses and under the discipline of our common Rules, they will dwell together in what- ever localities they can best promote the interests of Religion and the glory of God." The most important matter, however, was the question of what por- tion of the property had been purchased with the money allocated for the Texas mission by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith through the Maison-Mere, so as to determine what belonged to the Vicariate and what portion to the Vincentians. To that end Timon prepared an inventory of the property obtained by Odin with money received from Saint-Lazare. According to Timon's estimate, Odin had 70 Timon to Sturchi, January 1 2, 1844 ( 1845), cited in Bayard, op. cit., 339, 340.
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