Religious Comnmnities of Men in Texas
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in Texas without proper spiritual ministrations and lamented his inability to help them because of the scarcity of workers. A year later, still handicapped by the shortage of volunteers, he asked Abbot Gregory Scherr, of Metten, "Has Catholic Bavaria no mission-minded priests? Texas is a beautiful country." 22 Several years were to pass, however, before Abbot Wimmer was in position to answer the call of Bishop Odin. In the meantime, the dire need for missionaries to care for the increas- ing number of German and Polish settlers in Texas grew. The Franciscan Friars Minor Conventuals, who had come in 1852, had temporarily eased the situation, but their withdrawal in 1859 had made the need of new workers imperative. Urged by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, S.J., who had preached a series of missions in the German settlements with great success, Bishop Odin for the third time addressed himself to Abbot Wimmer to ask him to send some of his Benedictines from St. Vincent to establish a foundation in Texas. In offering San Jose Mission, located five miles from San Antonio, to Abbot Wimmer, the Bishop pointed out that its church was in such condition that two or three plasterers could fix it, but he admitted that the convent needed more extensive repairs. He offered, in addition, a plot of 500 acres of well- irrigated land, just opposite the mission, and most suitable for cultivation. "There are also in the neighborhood of the mission five German congre- gations," he continued, "that I would be happy to place under the direction of your priests." All this he offered, but concluded by stating frankly, "I have so many debts that I cannot promise you any money to assist you in the beginning." 23 Abbot Wimmer, notwithstanding the alluring offer, doubted seriously his ability to undertake the enterprise and refused it. Bishop Odin, after waiting a reasonable time, decided to go to St. Vincent to make a personal appeal. He arrived unexpectedly the day before the Feast of Corpus Christi and soon convinced the Chapter of his great need for help. Several priests volunteered and on July 1, 1859, a missionary band of three priests and two Brothers set out by train for Cairo, Illinois, and continued by boat to New Orleans. Bishop Odin accompanied them from there to Galveston, where they arrived on July 15. only to set out the next day for San Antonio. The five Benedictine pioneers were Fathers 22 Felix Fellner, O.S.B., "Benedictine Pioneers in Te:<as," p. S79, in Arc/rabb()/ Roni/nee Wimmer and His Monks, an unpubli~hed MS., copy obtained throu.~h the courtesy of Father Fellner. :lBishop Odin to Abbot Wimmer, March 12, t85Q, C. A. T.
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