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Oi&r Catholic Heritage in Texas
Alto Hoerrnann, Prior, Peter Baunach, and Aemilian Wendel, and Brothers Michael Boehns, and Norbert Rossberger. 24 The Benedictine Missionaries were welcomed by Father Dubuis, the future successor of Odin, and were put in charge of German communities in San Antonio, Castroville, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, and D'Han- nis, and given charge of a number of stations in the direction of the Mexican border. The Bishop, who was delighted with the fine group of new workers, sent Abbot Wimmer a draft before the end of July for $40.00 to pay for the board and tuition of the young seminarians who were studying at the abbey for the Texas missions. He promised to send him a like amount in January. He also took immediate steps to make out the deed transferring the property promised to the Benedictine Society of Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania. He assured the Abbot that the mission, not counting the church, and the lands represented a cost of $5,000, that they were, in fact, worth much more. 25 For good measure, the Bishop bought a lot for the contemplated house and church of the Benedictines stationed in San Antonio. It seems that Prior Hoermann expressed misgivings over the presence of other foundations in Texas. Bishop Odin hastened to assure Abbot Wimmer that there were no grounds for fear because at the time there were only two other groups in the vast diocese: the Oblates, with head- quarters in Brownsville, and the Society of Mary, who had charge of a school for boys in San Antonio. For a short time everything smiled on the new Benedictine establish- ment. King Louis of Bavaria made a present of 3,000 florins for "the new stations in Texas;" St. Mary's parish, San Antonio, and its two missions of San Jose and San Juan developed to the point that a second priest was needed; Father Peter Baunach was so successful at St. Mary's parish in Fredericksburg that the cornerstone for a new rock and mortar church was laid on June 1, 1861; and the parishes of St. Louis, Castro- ville, and St. Peter and St. Paul's in New Braunfels developed so fast that they soon required resident pastors. The growth and development necessitated three more missionaries. Father Amandus Kramer came in 1860 to help, and Fathers Theodore von Grunder and Gallus Erhardt arrived in 1861. In view of the flourishing state of its Texas missions, 24For biographical sketches on the pioneer Benedictines in Texas, see Fellner, o,;. eu., 582-586. tsFel\ner. nt,. r.it.; Bishop Odin to Abbot Wimmer, July 17, and October :zo, 1859, C. A. T.
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