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Our Cat/,olic Heritage in T e::tas
216
Franciscans," as they a-re affectionately called at times because of their habit, which distinguishes them from the brown-robed Friars Minor Observant, but more properly known as the Friars Minor Conventual, arrived in Texas on April 8, 1852, in answer to the warm invitation of Bishop Odin. Minister-General Hyacinth Gualerni, O.F.M. Conv., sent five men from Europe, Fathers Bonaventure Keller as Superior, and Leopold Bonaventure, Leopold Moczygemba, Dominic Mescens, and An- thony Miiller. Since the German and Polish settlements were growing rapidly, the new priests were assigned to Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Panna Maria, and other missions in the area north and west of San Antonio. The small band of Franciscans was reinforced a year lated by Fathers John Dornseiffer and Anthony Rossadowski. At the suggestion of Fathers Moczygemba and Rossadowski, both Polish, Bishop Odin author- ized the establishment of St. Joseph's College at Panna Maria, designed for the instruction of Polish youth. Little more than a beginning, how- ever, was made on this ambitious project. The extremes of Texas weather and the hardships of missionary life soon affected the new workers and proved too great for Father Bonaventure Keller, the Superior, who had to ,give up his work in 1859 on account of illness.2. 1 The Conventuals returned to Texas for parish work in 1929 in response to the plea of Bishop Schuler. S.J. The Reverend Constant Klein, O.F.M. Conv., came on August 28 as Superior, accompanied by Fathers Celestin Zeitler and Fabian Keenan to start work in the Diocese of El Paso. They found a fertile field for their endeavors in the New Mexico section of the Diocese. Father Klein took charge of San Jose Mission in Carlsbad to work with the Spanish-speaking; Father Zeitler was assigned to St. Edward's parish in the same city, and Father Keenan to St. Anthony's parish in Artesia. They also have a parish in Hobbs, New Mexico. Considerable success has attended their labors.ii• Benedictines, O.S.B., 1859. Hardly had the Benedictines established their first abbey in the United States, at St. Vincent, Pennsylvania, in 1856, than Abbot Boniface Wimmer began to receive appeals from Bishop Odin for missionaries to work in Texas. The Abbot informed Bishop Ziegler of Linz, Germany, that there were 5,000 German Catholics %!See notes (latin) of the Rev. Constant Klein, O.M.C., in C. A. T.; Cleofas Calleros, Texas Centennial Celebration, Diocese flf El Pasfl, 14, ! 1 •Cleofas Calleros, o,p, cit., p. 14.
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