011,r Catlwlic lle,-i.tage in Texas
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Upon his return to Dallas he entrusted the administration of the Oak Cliff Orphanage to the Sisters of Mercy, whose services he had secured during his visit to El Paso. This community was, also, given charge of St. Mary's Academy for young ladies, which opened on April 30, 1892. Church building had continued apace. On May 4, the cornerstone of a new church in Windthorst was laid by the Bishop, and on July 10, the beautiful church of St. Patrick in Fort Worth was dedicated. The occa- sion was honored by the presence of Archbishop Francis J anssens, of New Orleans, when Father J. M. Guyot celebrated the Solemn High Mass coram e,piscopo. Among the clergy present were Fathers Timothy K. Crowley, of Denison; Joseph Blum, of Munster; and Henry Brinkley, of Abilene. The first week in August saw Bishop Brennan back in Waxa- hachie for the dedication of its new church, which took place on August 7. At the end of his first year in the new Diocese, the enthusiatic young prelate summarized the progress made. The number of priests had been increased by eleven; four new religious communities had been brought into labor in the Diocese; twelve new churches had been built at Texar- kana, Forney, Pilot Point, Munster, Windthorst, Lindsay, Wichita Falls, Clarendon, Fort Worth, Waxahachie, and Denton, of which five had been organized as new parishes; and a Catholic newspaper had been founded. 77 The young bishop unfortunately for the Diocese of Dallas, held his post less than two years. While on his ad limina visit to Rome he was transferred to the Titular See of Utila, February 1, 1893 and made coadjutor to the See of St. John, Newfoundland. In the short time he administered the Diocese of Dallas, it underwent a remarkable develop- ment. The original 17 priests were increased to 30. By 1893 there were 25 churches with resident priests, 19 without, and 74 mission stations and chapels. The parochial schools had an enrollment of 1,500, not count- ing the young ladies attending the nine academies established by different religious communities. There were four hospitals and one orphanage. The Catholic population had risen from 15,000 to 20,000 among whom were included 9,000 Indians. 71 As Bishop Gallagher had foreseen, even before Bishop Brennan caine, 77 For this summary of the work of Bishop Brennan, the author is indebted to Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. O'Donohoe, LL.D., pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Fort Worth, and Secretary of the Texas Knights of Columbus Historical Commission. He com- piled the data from the files of T/,e Texas Cat/Joli& and other materials. Copy of the memorandum is in C. A. T. 11 Sadliers' CaJnolic Directory, Almanac, and Ordo for the Year of Our Lord, 1895, 256-258.
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