Establislzment of tlte Dioceses, 1847-1948
129
made can easily be imagined: a Catholic population of more than 100,000; 77 priests, of whom I 5 were regulars; 55 chapels and churches, 33 of brick or stone and 22 of wood ; 3 colleges, 8 schools for boys, and 9 academies for young ladies. The Holy Father sent through their bishop, a special blessing to the people of Texas and personally noted, after the Vatican Council, the active part ~aken in the deliberations by Bishop Dubuis:" Although it was evident that the development of the Church in Texas called for partitioning the immense diocese, nothing was done at this time. Immediately upon his return from the Vatican Council, the indefatiga- ble Bishop visited the Rio Grande district, recently devastated by heavy floods. He had no sooner finished his ministrations of charity in this area than he set out on another visitation. Going first to the northeast and then returning by way of San Antonio to the west, he confirmed fifteen hun- dred adults and children in his long and exhausting tour. 49 By 1873 the Catholic population was estimated to be about 180,000. Thirty years had seen the number of priests increase, 50 from less than a dozen to eighty- seven. The time had come for the division of the Diocese. The Establisliment of tlze Diocese of San A nwnio. The Third Pro- vincial Council of New Orleans recommended "as a matter that intimately concerns the faithful who live in the state or territory called Texas," that a new episcopal see be erected by dividing the Diocese of Galveston. It suggested, furthermore, that the new diocese be placed under a bishop, "whose episcopal residence would be in the city of San Antonio." 48 L'Abbe J. P., Vu de Dubuis, 188-193. The statistics given are from the CaJltolic Directory z870, 187-191. 49 Dia,nond lt1bilee of the Diocese of Galveston and St. Mary's CaJltedral, 1 II. 50 The Catholic Directory, 1873, gives the number in Texas as 83 but actually lists 87 by name. ·The subsequent Bishops of the Diocese of Galveston, as listed in Tlte Official Catholic Directory, 1950, p. 348, are: Right Reverend P. Dufal, C.S.C., D.D., consecrated November 25, 1860, Bishop of Deleon, and Vicar-Apostolic of Eastern Bengal; transferred to Galveston as Coadjutor of Right Reverend C. M. Dubuis, cum jure s11ccessionis, May 14, 1878; resigned 1880; died in Paris, 1898. Right Reverend Nicholas A. Gallagher, D.D., consecrated Titular Bishop of Canopus, April Jo, 1882; succeeded to Galveston, December 16, 1892; died January 21, 1918. Most Reverend Christopher E. Byrne, D.D., appointed July 18, 1918; consecrated November Io, 1918; made Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, May 8, I 941 ; died April, 1950. Most Reverend Wendlein J. Nold, S.T.D., ordained April II, 1925; appointed Titular Bishop of Sasima and Coadjutor to the Bishop of Galveston cum iure successionis November 29, 1947; consecrated February 25, 1948. Succeedeo. April 1, 1950.
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