Our Catholic Heritage, Volume VII

266

Ottr Catlwlic Heritage in Texas

inform me whether your intention is to take charge of St. Mary's College next September." He added that he had received applications but was awaiting decisions before making any other arrangements. 39 Guadal,vpe Seminary and College, Seguin, r876. This institution was the result of the work of exiled Mexican Jesuit Fathers and the interest and enthusiastic support of Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer. Twenty-two Jesuits, exiled by the rabidly anti-clerical President Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada of Mexico, arrived in San Antonio in 1873 and were made welcome by Bishop Dubuis. The next year, with the creation of the Diocese of San Antonio and the appointment of Bishop Pellicer as its first bishop, the exiled Jesuits, who had brought with them some of their novices from Mexico, proposed to the new bishop the establishment of a Seminary and College. They had, in fact, been conducting an informal seminary in the rented quarters where they had established their Community temporarily under the direc- tion of Father Artola, S.J. But they had found the quarters cramped and the facilities inadequate. A survey of the future possibilities had convinced them that they could not continue their school in San Antonio.' 0 Difficulties in Founding a Seniinary in San Antonio. Bishop Pellicer, who was anxious to establish a diocesan Seminary, encouraged them but explained that he could do little in a material way to help them. A larger house was obtained in San Antonio and the course in theology was given to the seminarians that year. At the same time Father Artola, S.J., made an extensive report to the General of the Order in Rome on February ~7, 1875 in support of the request that the Mexican Province be allowed to establish a house of studies and a college in Texas. He urged strongly the need of giving permanence to the establishment in San Antonio. Perhaps it would be advisable to found the house of studies somewhere in Texas. San Antonio offered little opportunities then for the develop- ment of a college for boys as a means of support for the house of studies or seminary proposed. There was a flourishing school for boys in San Antonio, being conducted by the Brothers of Mary, which seemed capable of meeting the demand for Catholic higher education for some time to come. ✓ Bishop Pellicer had offered to turn over to the Jesuits the small College of St. Joseph in Victoria, but Father Artola had hesitated to accept the 19 Bishop Dubuis to Father Sorin, Provincial Archives, Notre Dame, Indiana. 40 Gerardo de Corne, S.J:, Historin de In Cnmpn,iia de Jes,,s. (Guadalajara, I 9:n ), II, 324-329.

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