Our Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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of Associated Charities, now the Welfare Association, and of the Com- munity Chest. When he resigned his bishopric on November 22, 1942, in his farewell letter to the people of the diocese he gratefully thanked God and all those who had in many ways helped him improve the lot of others and translate religion into a living force. "My heart is filled with deepest gratitude to God for the unfailing loyalty and devotion of my priests, religious and laity . . . and the gracious helpfulness of those citizens of El Paso who are not of my flock but to whom I am also a debtor." Upon his resignation he retired to his old alma mater Regis College in Denver. There he spent the last two years of his life. He died on June 3, 1944. His deep love of God and all God's children endeared him to everyone who came in contact with him. "His charming simplicity, gen- tleness, kindness, all radiated from a soul that lived in union with God," said Bishop Metzger in his funeral oration on June 13. The affection in which he was held by Catholics and non-Catholics alike was demonstrated hy the general mourning of all citizens of El Paso who joined in paying trihute to the devoted and zealous prelate.9 2 C1·eation of t/1e Archdiocese of San Antonio. The Diocese of Gal- veston. erected in 18.i7, had once included the whole State of Texas. By 1915 it had heen divided into five dioceses: Galveston, San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi and El Paso. The Church had continued to grow and expand. By 1925 the Catholic population of Texas was estimated to he approximately 800,000, of whom the Mexican pioneers and their fellow countrymen, who kept coming in search of refuge during the troubled vears that followed the Mexican Revoh1tion of 1910 formed a large part. Yet the Texas dioceses were still dependent upon two ecclesiastical pro- vinces located outside of the State. The Diocese of El Paso was the suf- fragan of Santa Fe, while the other four diocese were suffragans of New Orleans. The time had come it seemed for the erection of a Metropolitan See to care specifically for the needs of the faithful in Texas. Archbishop Shaw of New Orleans had hecome convinced that it was a physical impossibility to exerci!-e effective jurisdiction over so vast an area from New Orleans. The Metropolitan of Santa Fe could not care for more than the Diocese of El Paso. When the matter was brought to 91The Most Reverend Sidney Matthew Metz.Q"er, who !lucceeded Bishop Schuler, had been made Bishop of Birta and named Auxiliary of Santa Fe on January S, I 940. He was consecrated on April 1 o, 1940, and on December 26, I 941, was appointed Coadjutor B!!lhop of El Paso, December 26, 1()41 : succeeded to the See of F.1 Pa!lo, Novemher 2:l, t()42. Tl,e O.ffirinl Cnthnllc nirertnr,y, 1950, p. 323.
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