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Tlte Vicariate, 1841-1847
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in the hope that he would not have a reoccurrence of the fever. "One day," he continued, "I started early in the morning and traveled until nine o'clock expecting no fever, but it returned. I had no water, was in the midst of a large prairie, exposed to the rays of the burning sun, and no house in sight. I thought I would die." But on he went until he reached the edge of the timber where from sheer exhaustion he fell asleep. Late that day he arrived at Mr. Brown's. As soon as he was able to travel again-after twenty-four days-he continued his visitation of the Lavaca, the Navidad, the Guadalupe. and the San Antonio river valleys. While in the heart of the Lavaca settlements he visited with Hay- don and Clarke and was impressed by the school being built by them. It consisted of a two-story log house with a passage or hall down the center. The school was to be opened to children and adults in October. In Victoria he was met by Father Estany, who accompanied him to San Antonio. The Victoria church had been repaired under the direc- tion of Fathers Haydon and Clarke and looked neat and orderly. Father Estany was doing excellent work among the scattered Mexi- can settlers. He had built a school for boys at Don Carlos' ranch and had been visiting regularly the Catholics in Refugio, Lamar, Live Oak Point, and many other places. He had started repairs on the church at Refugio, but he had been obliged to suspend work for lack of funds. Odin next visited Goliad. The old church, particularly the dome, was in dire need of repair. He estimated that five hundred dollars would suffice to put the church in condition. The few families living there were so poor that they could contribute nothing but sand, lime, and labor. When he finally reached San Antonio late in the summer, he took formal possession of the four mission churches and the lands allocated to them by the Catholic Church Property Act passed in January, 1841. Repairs on the old church of San Fernando had progressed steadily in spite of all handicaps. The roof had been completely replaced, the interior had been plastered, and work on the exterior had been started, but already more than twelve hundred dollars had been spent and Odin estimated that it would take as much more to finish the work. Under ~is watchful eye the task was continued and by December the build- ing was ready to be rededicated. Odin chose December 12, the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, for the celebration. With much ceremony, a formal procession, and great enthusiasm he rededicated the old church,
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