Tlie Vicariate, 1841-1847
The zealous Vicar had not been wasting his time, sitting, fretting, and worrying in New Orleans. He held lengthy conferences with Timon on matters of policy and the continued cooperation of the Vincentians. It was agreed that, for the duration of the war, the recently acquired funds from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith would be used largely for developing the Galveston-Houston area, using for the pur- pose the tentative allotments made for improvements in the West. High on the list of essential expenditures was the purchase of an episcopal residence, as became the dignity of the Bishop-Vicar. The money that had been allocated for the West was to be applied for this purpose. It was, likewise, agreed that until conditions returned to normal, the immediate increase in personnel would best be postponed, although both Timon and Odin had long looked forward to increasing the number of workers in the Texas field. Father Burlando, who had been only tenta- tively assigned to Texas duty, was to be relieved so as to permit his return to the Barrens. During the two months Odin was in New Orleans, he kept busy preaching in St. Mary's, hearing confession at Charity Hospital and the Asylum, and giving retreats to the Sisters. 37 Early labors of tlte Bisliop-Vicar. On his arrival in Galveston on May 13, 1842, Odin was much relieved to find that conditions were not as bad as they had seemed from afar. One of the causes of his deep concern had been the welfare of the missionaries stationed in San Antonio. He was pleased to learn that Calvo, Estany and Brother Salas had not been bothered and that San Antonio would not have to be abandoned temporarily as he had anticipated. Ever solicitous for his men in the field, he immediately arranged to send them coffee, sugar, and Mass wine, as well as some shirts and other articles of clothing. He also sent Clarke in the Lavaca district as many supplies as he could gather. Unable to leave the Galveston-Houston area, the new Vicar busied himself adding a small sacristy to the church, buying a home for his residence, and converting into a school a large building in the rear, a drugstore--all for $1,200.00, only part of which he was able to pay in cash. The episcopal "palace," a one-story frame house with a kitchen, four rooms, and a large porch, was located in the best part of town. Before the end of the summer he was able to report that he had twenty- two pupils, one-third of whom were non-Catholics. The school was under the care of James P. Nash, his sacristan and sexton, who was the teacher. Odin gave catechism instruction daily to ten or twelve. Masses on Sun-
5 70din, Diary, entries for March and April, 1842, C. A. T.
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