Establisltment of tlic Dioceses, 1847-1948
4 hospitals, but only I nurses' training school. The Catholic population of the new diocese had apparently remained unchanged, yet over 8,000 persons had been confirmed and 7,000 infants baptized. This apparent discrepancy may be explained by the fact that many of those baptized were children of migrant laborers and of others who prolonged droughts and unfavorable conditions drove away to more favorable regions. 101 • The Diocese of A1estin. The seventh and youngest diocese of Texas was created by Pope Pius XII on November 15, 1947. 1 oz Because of the rapid growth and development of Central Texas, the need for such action had long been felt. The previous consent of the archdiocese of San Antonio and the diocese of Galveston and Dallas, which would be affected was obtained, whereupon His Holiness, in the exercise of his powers, decreed the erection of the Diocese of Austin. For this purpose the counties of McCulloch, San Saba, Mason, Llano, Blanco, Hays, Cald- well, and those portions of Burnet, Travis, and Bastrop counties lying south of the Colorado River were taken from the Archdiocese of San Antonio. To these were added, from the Diocese of Galveston, the counties of Lampasas, Coryell, McLennan, Limestone, Bell, Falls, Robertson, Williamson, Milam, Brazos, Lee, Burleson, Washington, Austin and those portions of the counties of Colorado, Burnet, Fayette, Bastrop and Travis lying north of the Colorado River; and from the Diocese of Dallas the four counties of Coleman, Brown, Mills, and Hamilton. The twenty-eight counties were put together to constitute the new Diocese of Austin, which was made suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of San Antonio. By the terms of the Bull, Austin was designated the episcopal city and the Church of St. Mary was granted all the honors, distinction and privileges of a cathedral. All documents in the chanceries of the Arch- diocese of San Antonio and the diocese of Galveston and Dallas pertain- ing to the new diocese were ordered transferred as soon as possible to the chancery office in Austin. The Apostolic Delegate in Washington was authorized to put into execution the provisions of the Bull of Erection and given the right to delegate, if necessary, these powers to any person of ecclesiastical dignity. 103 101 •Bishop Gerken was succeeded by the Most Reverend Robert E. Lucey in May, 1934. Upon his elevation to the Metropolitan See of San Antonio on January 22, 1941, the Most Reverend Laurence J. FitzSimon, D.D., became Bishop of Amarillo, November 5, 1941. 102 Bull Ad animarum b<mum, Rome, November 15, 1947. Copy in C. A. T. 103/bM.
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