Odin, Bishop John Mary, Galveston, Texas, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1853 February 4

Odin received Blanc's latest letter yesterday. Blanc is to include the name of Peter Lacour among the ordinands for the next Ember days. Odin plans to have Lacour come to Galveston soon to practice English and Spanish. The young men who have been here for 2 months have made rapid progress in these languages. Odin has a class every day for them; English is the only language allowed in the house. He is going to have the Sisters of the Incarnate Word leave for Brownsville . These Sisters have devoted all their time to the study of the languages. They speak and write Spanish with ease and know the principles of English. Five priests will accompany the Sisters, three for Brownsville and two for Laredo . Odin must hire a schooner to take them to their destination; the steamboats do not go there. All these trips are expensive; their resources grow slowly. There are only 2 or 3 places which contribute sufficiently to support their pastors. Of the numerous emigrants who arrive every day, few belong to the Church. In August Odin wrote to Cardinal James Philip Fransoni to tell him of three small parishes, in the neighborhood of El Paso del Norte which the Bishop of Durango still considers as part of his diocese. Fransoni replied that, if at the time that bulls for the erection of the see of Galveston were sent, these three parishes were in the domain of Texas, Odin should take charge of them. He added that they would write to the Bishop of Durango. These three settlements were on the east side of the Rio Grande at the time of the treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico. The government at once placed a military garrison there and Texas laws were in force. According to the Cardinal's reply, Odin should at once extend his jurisdiction. Does Blanc believe he would be lacking in his duty if he defers for some time? He would like to wait until the Bishop of Durango had notified the priests there that he is no longer in charge. Father Antonio Severo Borrajo is the only respectable priest there. There have been some unpleasant dealings. This long and difficult trip could hardly be made this spring. However, if Blanc thinks Odin should act at once, he will try to do something about it. :: VI-1-e A.L.S. French 2pp. 8vo. 11