Kenrick, Peter Richard, Archbishop of, St. Louis, Missouri, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 February 14

Kenrick has asked the Sacred Congregation to erect an Apostolic Vicariate for the territories of Idaho and Montana, where there are many Catholics whose wants have been brought to Kenrick's notice by the Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska and the Archbishop of Baltimore. The wife of Governor Meagher informed the Archbishop of Baltimore. Kenrick has submitted the names of Father Peter J. DeSmet, S.J., Father Joseph Giorda, S.J., and Father Urban Grassi, S.J. The last two are already engaged in the Indian Missions of these territories. Giorda resides at Virginia City in Montana. He wrote last year to the Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska that there were upwards of 20 settlements in the territory in all of which were Catholics. Emigration there will be very great this year. Kenrick hopes Odin will express his opinion to Cardinal Barnabo without delay. :: VI-2-k A.L.S. 2pp. 4to.