I 17
Establislzment of tlze Dioceses, 1847-1948
leagues, had confirmed more than eleven hundred souls, and had visited for the first time the Rio Grande Valley, he exclaimed, "Great are the needs of this vast mission. Twenty additional priests would not suffice to fill the posts that_ it is urgent to provide." He needed personnel, money for new churches and chapels, vestments, books, and all the other things essential for the spread of religion. The Bible Society of New York was most active in the Rio Grande area, he observed. "With an ardor worthy of a better cause, they labor to lead astray the poor Mexicans and civilized Indians that reside in that country, offering them as inducement free educational facilites, the fatal poision of their contagious doctrines." He assured the Cardinal that not less than two new convents were needed in the valley to instruct and care for the faithful. It was of the utmost importance to build houses of worship as soon as possible in Rio Grande City, Roma, Eagle Pass, D'Hanis, Vandenberg, Seguin, Cibolo, Austin, Corpus Christi, San Patricio, Washington-on- the-Brazos, Liberty, Woodsville, Beaumont, and Clarksville. Like the good shepherd that he was, he could not conclude his report without praising the zeal, devotion, sacrifices, and hardships of his en- thusiastic fellow workers. "They all live in the greatest poverty and endure fatigues and privations of all kinds without a murmur. The prin- cipal purpose of my voyage to Europe is to secure twenty priests." 17 By 1860 another decade had passed. The progress attained in the face of continued difficulties is revealed in the description of the Diocese published in the Catholic Almanac for this year. The realization of the immediate objectives stated with so much fervor in 1851 had been sur- passed and Bishop Odin had a right to feel proud of the achievement. There were five seminarians, and the number of priests had increased from twelve to forty-two. Parishes had multiplied to more than sixty, with forty-four churches and chapels, besides four under construction. His great interest in providing educational facilities had resulted in the establishment of one college, five schools for boys, and four academies for young ladies. 18 The growth had been phenomenal. The First Synod of the Diocese of Galveston. Further proof of the 17 Petite notice sur le Diocese de Galveston, Texas. Rome, September 22, I 85 I. (Prepared by Odin for the Sacred Congregation d11 Propaganda Fide,) Photostat copy in C. A. T. 18 The llfetropoUtan Catholic Almanac and Laity's Dir11ctory for 1/te United Stal/ls. Witk an Appendix Containi11g tire Canadian Directory. 1860, (Baltimore, 1859.)
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