Establislmzent of tlee Dioceses, 1847-1948
1 39
he declared, that a new diocese be erected in that area so that a second bishop could look after the interests of the faithful more conveniently. He concluded by stating, "Many priests will be needed in the near future for that part of the State, and the bishop can render much aid by personal work in preaching and visiting various parts of the diocese.' 2 In his proposal Bishop Gallagher wrote that the Catholic population in North Texas was about 15,000; that there were 25 churches, 17 priests, 3 hospitals, 5 academies for girls, 3 boarding schools for boys, 1 orphan- age, and 8 convents. The total population of the area was over a million, principally Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Chris- tians. Some prejudice was evident he declared, but traceable more to ignorance than to malice. "Catholics generally are not as fervent, nor zealous as they might be, and there is 11mcli difference among them.... They are widely scattered through the country so as to make it difficult to reach them and this is one reason why so many are indifferent and the cause for many having fallen away from the faith in years past." Dallas was., in Bishop Gallagher's opinion, the most important and largest city in the area. Two frame churches being insufficient to care for the Catholics, a third of brick was under construction, which was expected to be ready for use in six months. Of the two dwellings for the pastors, built next to the churches, the Sacred Heart rectory, a two-story, ten-room frame building, he considered "though not grand. would be sufficient for the present residence of a bishop." 73 Gallagher submitted the matter in 1889 to all the Bishops of the Province of New Orleans, who readily joined him in soliciting action by the Holy Father. In reply to their joint request Pope Leo XIII declared in his Brief Romani Ptmtifids, of July 15, 1890: "We most willingly accede, and, paying heed to what the Prelates of the Province of New Orleans have urged for the greater spiritual welfare of the faithful. ... We hereby divide or dismember the Diocese of Galveston to form a new Diocese which shall bear the name of Dallas, its See and most populous city, wherein are found two churches with adjoining- dwellings." The new diocese was to consist of all that part of Texas lying north of the counties of Lampasas, Coryell. McLennan, Freestone (Lime Stone), Anderson, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Shelby. This delineation of boundaries left the position of El Paso County in doubt. The El Paso district, as previously stated. had been made a part
72 Gallagher, "Notes on the propo~ed new Dioc:e~e of Dalla!I," C. A. T. 13 f.f1C. cit.
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