Establislmzc11t of tlec Dioceses, 1847-1948
145
immigration had begun to pour into west and north Texas. The new Diocese of Dallas continued to grow rapidly. Its zealous shepherds dili- gently carried the comforts of religion and the teachings of the Church to every corner of their jurisdiction. 7811 Transformation of tlte Vicariatc Apostolic of Brownsville into tlte Diocf!.se of Corptts Cl,risti. The Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville had meanwhile been growing anad developing too, both materially and spir- itually. By 19II, twenty years after the modest but tireless Bishop Verdaguer had taken charge of the Vicariate, there were 16 secular and 16 regular priests, 15 churches with resident pastors, and 60 chapels and stations that had to be visited regularly by the overworked missionaries. The Brothers of Mary Immaculate had opened St. Joseph's College for Boys in Brownsville and various religious communities had established five academies for young ladies throughout the Vicariate. Nine of the parishes had parochial schools with an estimated total enrollment of more than 1,200 students. Compared with the other Texas dioceses the Vicariate was poorer in worldly goods but richer in souls to save. 79 To a prospective priest-'missionary, Verdaguer had frankly written: "Should you . . . be willing to submit yourself to a poor mission life, in my most poor Vicariate, you may come.... But the Vicariate is poor, very poor, so much so that even in Laredo, the best parish, the priests do not have a regularly monthly salary. Some months they get ten dollars, some eight, some five, but never more than ten." 80 The Vicariate had nonetheless developed to a point where its erection into a diocese could no longer be postponed. The failure to take this action was perhaps respon- sible in part for its condition. When Bishop Verdaguer died on October 26, 1911, the necessary steps for the change were taken. At a council of the Province of New Orleans the bishops voted to suggest to the Holy See that the Vicariate be raised to a diocese. Their entreaty, having been given favorable con- sideration by the Sacred Congregation of Cardinals, was recommended 78 •The subsequent Bishops of the Diocese of Dallas are: The Right Reverend Edward Joseph Dunne, D.D., consecrated November 30, 1893; died August 5, 1910; Most Reverend Joseph Patrick Lynch, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Dallas; ordained June 8, 1911; consecrated July 12, 1911; Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, May 13, 1936. Died Aug. 19, 1954. Most Reverend Thomas K. Gorman, D.D., D.Sc., Hist. Coadjutor to the Bishop of Dallas-Fort Worth, Feb. 8, 195:z. Succeeded Aug. 19, 1954. 79 The Official Catholic Directory and Clergy List, 1911. 80 Register of Appointments, 56, Diocesan Arcllr.1es of Corpus Cnri.sti.
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