Our Catlwlic Heritage in Texas
That evening Timon addressed a public meeting in the courthouse. On January 4, 1841, Timon and Odin resumed their journey down the Colorado, passed through the busy settlement of "Industry," and stopped for the night at the house of a Mr. Miller, a Presbyterian preacher. The next day they reached San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos, still showing the effects of the fire set by Santa Anna. By January 8, the two weary travelers were in Houston. The weather had been bad and was getting worse. The constant rain had made the roads as well the streets almost impassable, and a stiff "norther" had chilled the two priests to the bone. 55 Undeterred by the weather, Timon presented Odin personally to his numerous friends, Catholics and Protestants alike, and to civil officials. A large number attended Mass on Sunday at Mr. Bernard Careher's and in the evening Timon preached in the Senate of the old Capitol to a large crowd which had gathered in spite of the weather. The zealous missionaries found time to hear confessions, to hold meetings to raise funds for a church, and to baptize young William Pascall. Seven hundred dollars were pledged for the building, and a collection committee, composed of Donnellan, De Chene, and Careher, was appointed before Timon and Odin set out on January I I for Galveston on board the Dayton. Upon their arrival in Galveston the next day, Timon formally installed Odin as Vice-Prefect of Texas and pastor of Galveston and Houston. The weather continued bitterly cold and quite wet. The warehouse of Peter J. Menard was converted into a temporary chapel, but the rain was so bad that very few were able to attend Mass that Sunday, and the evening services were cancelled. Much was accomplished, never- theless, during the week. Timon Baptized Mrs. J arnes DeLacy and celebrated the first Nuptial Mass to bless her marriage; three days later he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation-the first in Texas in thirty-five years-and held meetings with the building committee to work out the plans for erecting a church. After Timon assumed a debt of four hundred dollars to Dr. Labadie and Peter Menard, it was voted to start work immediately. Although great hopes were entertained that the building would be completed soon, little was done after the departure of the missionaries for East Texas. On January 20 Timon and Odin, expecting to continue to Nacog- 55The account of the travel from Austin to Nacogdoches and East Texas herein presented is based on Odin's Diar,y, January I-February 8, 1841; Timon to Durando, February 14, 1841; and Odin to ttienne, April u, 1841, C. A. T.
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