Catlwlic Educational Endeavors
fever strode upon its deck. Two more of the courageous little band died en route, Sisters St. Augustine and Marie, before they finally reached Brownsville on July 17, 1866. Mother St. Claire, founder of the Browns- ville community, in spite of her years, escaped contagion and was as vigorous as ever after her long and eventful trip. 41 Mother St. Claire could hardly recognize the old convent in Browns- ville. While she underwent her Homeric experiences in recruiting new workers abroad a large addition to accommodate boarding students had been made, and music and art rooms had been added. Another two-story building had been put up also, with a Chapel on the first floor, and quarters for the Novitiate and a community room on the second. The Brownsville Community was ready to accept the invitation of Bishop Dubuis to establish a foundation in Victoria. With the approval of the Community Chapter, Mother St. Ange so informed him. To main- tain the best relations and insure complete cooperation between the two Communities, it was agreed, first, to assist each other with personnel and in economic matters; second, to consult problems of mutual interest; third, to recognize the Hospital Sisters,•i Tertiaries of the Incarnate Word, as corporate members. Reverend Mother St. Claire Valentine, Superior; Sister Paul Goux, assistant; and Sisters Mary Louise Murray, Secretary; Mary of the Cross Murray; and Justina Fonveille went to Victoria before the end of the year to found a new Community. Directly from France came Sister Regis, who preceded the other five in her arrival. The Sisters from Brownsville ar- rived on December 21, 1866, and were welcomed by Father Augustine Gardet, an enthusiastic advocate of Catholic education, who gave up his c,wn house to make the newcomers comfortable. The people of Victoria, too, were happy they came and looked forward with eagerness to the opening of the school. 43 This was delayed until January 7, 1867, by the need of building a small addition to the house so generously donated by Father Gardet. Nazareth Academy began formally on this date, with fifty-five 41 The account taken from the Annals of the Community of Brownsville is cited in Sister Mary Xavier Holworthy, o;. cit., 23. 4 ZThe reference is to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, founded in t 866 at the suggestion of Bishop Dubuls. They have dedicated themselves to the care of the sick and the poor and founded many hospitals in Texas and other states. For a brief sketch see Debey, o;. &it., 594.598. 43 Cf. Sister Mary Pave Regan, Nazareth Academy, Dim,w11d Jubi/11, 1866-1941, p. 23. There are some minor discrepancies with the account by Sister Mary Xavier Holworthy, o;. cit., 37.
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