Ottr Cat/10/ic Heritage in T e:xas
whom the Bulls were eventually sent for personal delivery to Odin. Pleased with the outcome of the situation, Timon was happy to inform Blanc that Odin would "continue thus as Superior of our Congregation in that country." 10 C(l11.secration of Odin in New Orleans. Although the Bulls arrived in New Orleans on October 11, 1841, Blanc withheld the news from Odin until the following January, when he finally made a frantic effort to contact the wandering missionary in Texas. The reason for 'this delay was Blanc's conviction that it would not be proper to con- secrate and install Odin in the absence of the ex-Prefect. Timon did not return from Europe to New Orleans until January 17, 1842. Like the Wise Men, he came loaded with gifts for the Vicar-Bishop-Elect. His baggage, unloaded at New Orleans, contained two boxes of articles for divine worship "For Rt. Rev. John Odin, Galveston, Texas." Blanc and Timon now discussed the plans for the consecration of the Bishop-Elect. They agreed that the ceremony should be in the New Orleans Cathedral and set March 6 as the date. Odin was to be summoned as soon as his whereabouts could be determined. 21 Bishop Blanc was to be the Consecrator, assisted by the Bishops of Mobile and Natchez. Doctor Labadie was immediately contacted in Galveston concerning the whereabouts of Odin, but he could give no definite information other than that Odin was still in San Antonio. The Vice Prefect, totally ignorant of what had transpired, was at this time returning to Galveston by way of the Lavaca district. Not until February 4, 1842, did he arrive in Galveston. Two days later he said Mass for the first time in the new church of St. Mary. "It cost $900.00 and I have already paid towards it $400.00. I spent $20.00 to fix the altar," Odin wrote on that day in his Diar·y. Shortly after his arrival, just as he sat down to prepare a report to Blanc on his prolonged tour, Mr. Menard brought him several letters from New Orleans, among them one from Blanc informing him of his appointment as Bishop and Vicar-Apostolic and asking him to come to New Orleans at once. "I had hoped," he wrote, "that his Holi- ness would have considered my feebleness and would have excused me as unworthy of the honor and as incapable of bearing so heavy a burden. It will not be possible for me to go to New Orleans at once because I have many things to arrange, but I will set out by the next boat." It was almost two weeks, February 17, before he was able to board the
ZOTimon to Blanc, July 27, 1841, C. A. T. 21Bayard, o,P. cit., 263.
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