Financial Sup-p01't for tire Clmrcle in Texas
201
the mission field constantly expanded. Kelley pointed out in 1922, while he was still president of the Society and not long before he became Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma, that Catholics in the United States had the duty to care for the underprivileged of the Southwest. He deplored the situation all along the Rio Grande, where thousands of souls needed spiritual instruction and food. The region was not a fallow field but an area with innumerable souls ripe for the harvest. "The children of the Southwest." he exclaimed, moved by the enthusiasm of Bishop Ledvina, "are a great element of the future population ... weak today ... we can be strong there tomorrow, if we do not neglect the duty of the hour."' 5 The untended sheep had been succumbing to the wolves in sheeps' clothing seeking souls to lead astray, and the heart of the president of the Catholic Church Extension Society was tremendously stirred in their behalf. His worthy successor, Bishop O'Brien, shared this concern for the entire Southwest and for Texas in particular, and has continued to give generously to all the dioceses in the State. The help extended has been invaluable in advancing missionary work. It has enabled the bishops to care better for their scattered and growing flocks, and even to win converts to the true Gospel. The tables on pages 202, 203 and 204 of cash donations expresses better than words the full extent and nature of the assistance given to Texas bishops up to 1950. Cat/eolic Missions for tlee Col01'ed People and the Indians. The Com- mission for Catholic Missions among the Colored People and the Indians has likewise contributed to the extension work of the Church in Texas. Since there are few Indians left in the state, the aid given for the spread of Faith by the Commission has been granted to the various dioceses for work among the Spanish-speaking and the Colored. The concern of the Church for the unfortunate Indians and the neg- lected Negro is not recent. As early as the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore. the Bishops discussed this vast problem. Although no definite action was taken, the subject was left on the agenda. When the Third Plenary Council met in 1884. it took steps to organize a permanent Commission for this object. According to its recommendation a Com- mission with a Board of Directors. composed of three members of the Hierarchy and assisted by a secretary. was to be set up. Its funds were to he derived from an annual collection which the Bishops of the Council ordered to be taken up in every Chnrrh in the United States on the
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