Our Catl,olic lleritagc in Texas
Rigomer Olivier, O.M.I., Etienne Vignolle, O.M.I., Pierre Fourrier Par- isot, O.M.I., Pierre Yves Keralum, O.M.I., and Jean Marie Gaye, O.M.I. Here they spent their time studying English and Spanish, exercising their ministry in the Cathedral Parish and directing the seminarians. Within a month, the future Oblate historian, Father Parisot, delivered his first sermon in English. The observant Bishop Odin wrote, "His sermon was not only well understood, but enjoyed by the audience. He speaks with unction and sentiment. Less than a year from now, he should be strong in the English language, as he applies himself to it with ardor."• Of the pioneers of the first Seminary, Parisot alone was to live to see the laying of the cornerstone of St. Anthony's Seminary in San Antonio by the Apostolic Delegate to the United States fifty years later. Early in 1853, Bishop Odin took steps to foster the infant Seminary of St. Mary. In a pastoral letter to the faithful of his diocese he made a strong appeal for support. He urged all Catholics to come to his aid and help him erect the Seminary buildings "which I want to give to the Oblate Fathers of Galveston." There was a note of hopefulness in his appeal. "I have reason to hope," he said, "that our efforts to collect [ the necessary] revenues will not be fruitless; I even think of being able to start the work on the foundations. Already they are preparing the materials; next month I am to receive 200,000 bricks. All rejoice at the prospect of having a college soon to be opened [likewise] by our Fathers. Protestants them- selves shall be our most generous contributors and benefactors."' In the meantime the Oblate Fathers continued without abatement their labors to formalize the Seminary and College upon which the Bishop had set his heart. In May, 1853, Bishop de Mazenod sent Father Baudrand from Canada to Galveston to take charge of the Seminary and College. He was a pioneer of the work in Canada, a companion of Father Telmon, a man of learning and sound scholarship, kn9wn for his wisdom and his holiness, who spoke English well. Upon his arrival, Father Keralum pre- sented to him a plan he had drawn for a building to be temporarily occupied by the Oblates until a larger edifice could be built. 7 Father Baudrand felt the proposed building was too small for a seminary and college and found support in Bishop Odin for the building of a larger structure better suited for a real seminary and college. New plans were drawn and estimates SNotes for Oblate HistorJ, 15. 'Documents 13, Arc/,ives of tlie Provincial House, San Antonio, Texas. 1 Document 25, Arc/,ives nf t/,e Provi11cial House, San Antonio, Texas. See also Notes for Oblate HistorJ, 18.
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