CHAPTER III
THE VICARIATE, 1841-1847
Unaware of the action taken in Rome late in December by which his able lieutenant, Odin, had been made Coadjutor Bishop of Detroit, Timon had stopped in Natchitoches early in February, 1841, to secure spiritual aid for Texas. He had arranged with the Rev. Joseph Giusti- niani, in charge of the Vincentian parish, to make quarterly visitations, beginning in June, 1841, to San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and the scattered settlements on the Neches and the Sabine. Timon could not forget the fervor with which these long abandoned Catholics had begged him to assist them in maintaining their Faith. At the same time he had agreed to send Joachim Alabau, one of the Spanish missionaries of the band of 1838 1 to San Antonio as assistant to Father Calvo, who was alone most of the time while Estany looked after the scattered settlers in the San Antonio River valley. Alabau was convalescing at the time in Louisiana from a recent illness, but he was to go to Texas as soon as possible. 1 Odin proposed as Bishop of Detroit. With Texas ever on his mind, Timon continued his journey through Louisiana to the Barrens in Missouri. Not until the middle of April did he learn that Odin had been appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Detroit and that the Bulls were being expected any day in New Orleans. This was a severe blow to Timon, who had built so many hopes for Texas on the continuance of Odin in the new Republic. Stunned at first, he soon resolved to do everything in his power to prevent the realization of what would have been a catastrophe for Texas.: The Diocese of Detroit had been without an administrator for four years, ever since Bishop Frederic Rese had gone to Europe for treat- ment of an incurable brain malady. It was urgent that someone take charge of things. The Baltimore Council strongly recommended in 1840 the appointment of a coadjutor bishop and suggested Odin as the second of three possible candidates to be submitted to Rome. Rosati explained to Timon in a letter from the Vatican, dated in December, 1840, which did not reach the Barrens until the following April, that lTimon to Nozo, February 12, 1841, cited by Bayard, The Lone Star Vanguard, 229-230. %J3a yard , op. cit., z I 4-2 I 9. [68]
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