Establishment of tlee Dioceses, 1847-1948
I 19
Anr,ouncement was made of the appointment of Fathers Louis Cham- bodut, Claude M. Dubuis, and Augustin Gaudet as consultors of the Diocese. Chambodut was made chancellor; Dubuis was named vice-chan- cellor for San Antonio and vicinity; Gaudet, for Brownsville; and Girau- don, for Laredo. Adopted and publicly read were the regulations governing the customs to be observed by the clergy, their apparel, the erection of new churches and establishment of new parishes, and proper record-keeping by the various parishes. Nine specific statutes covered the administration of the Sacraments. A special recommendation concerning the responsibility of instructing the youth in the basic principles of Catholicism was made to all the clergy, and the faithful were urged to furnish the means for the education of young men for the priesthood. Two annual collections were ordered: one for the support of the seminary, and the other for the varied and increasing obligations of the Diocese. Of particular significance is the adoption of two statutes providing for the organization on a statewide basis of the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Faith and the organization of the Confraternity of the Imma- culate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for the conversion of sinners. The first was probably suggested to Bishop Odin by its prototype in Europe. He could not help remembering the invaluable aid which this pious Society had rendered and was still giving for the support of his Diocese and the spread of the Faith in Texas. The constitution and bylaws for improving the administration of the Diocese were to go into effect as soon as they were received by the clergy throughout the Diocese. Each priest was directed to say one Mass every year for all the deceased clergy of the Diocese and three Masses for every brother cleric upon receipt of his obituary notice. At the conclusion of the last session held on Sunday, June 20, 1858. the Te Deum was sung in solemn thanksgiving, and the episcopal blessing was bestowed on the assembled clergy and people. 20 "It is very consoling," Odin wrote shortly after the meeting, "to h:we found myself surrounded by so goodly a number of excellent colleagues. I was much edified by the zeal that was manifested during these holy exercises [the Synodal retreat] for their spiritual progress. as well as by the docility with which they accepted the decrees that were proposed. 21 20 Record.r of the Fir.rt Synod of Galve.rto1J, r858, C. A. T. 21 Letter of Odin to M. Dunlay, of Lyons, reporting the success of the First S~·nod of Galveston, cited by Fitzmorris, Four Decad4.r of Catnfllici.rm in Ttra.r, 93.
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