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Scope and Contents About 2 weeks ago, Denavit told Blanc of the departure of two missionaries going to Texas and embarking in the Gaspard. A misunderstanding prevented them from taking the boat; they are to take the Wurtemberg on March 28 and will probably arrive in New Orleans around the middle of May. Denavit has received a letter from Bishop John Mary Odin since he left New Orleans and after an edifying account of the provincial council Odin added that two missionaries would be welcomed at New Orleans by...

Scope and Contents Denavit encloses no enclosure a letter for Father Gilbert Raymond, who is asking for subjects for his work in Blanc's diocese. The Superior read Raymond's letter to the whole community. This year four bishop have talked to their community and have not obtained subjects. The prelates who came to the seminary are the Coadjutor of Ceylon, Bishop Taché of Lower Canada, Bishop Bataillon of New Caledonia and finally Bishop Armand de Charbonnel of Toronto, who preached their retreat and found no...

Scope and Contents He learned that Odin was detained at Ambierle by illness. He hopes they soon see him at the seminary. He received a letter from Father Gilbert Raymond which is marked very urgent. He also received one from Father Dubreul saying that Odin's watch had been found. Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis left this morning for Rome with Archbishop Martin John Spalding and Bishop Thomas L. Grace of St. Paul. Dubuis has already found 8 seminarians for Texas. If Odin could have arrived before he would have found...

Scope and Contents Denavit is sending the registered letter he spoke of. He expected to find banknotes but it enclosed only various letters. F.P. Ponchon spent a year and some months at the seminary; they conferred tonsure without the least difficulty. Suddenly without saying goodbye to anyone except the Superior, Ponchon left and went to Father Comballot 's. Denavit thinks this was not ill will, but lack of judgment. After several months Comballot wished to have him ordained a subdeacon; the Cardinal did not...

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He sends the letters he has received. They will always be glad to have him at the seminary, however, from the 6th when the clergy retreat begins, to the next Saturday, their house will be entirely occupied and they even lack room for all the requests, because of Bishop Gaspar Mermillod who will preach their retreat. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents The clergy retreat prevents the Superior from answering Odin's letter; Denavit writes in his place. They know little about the young man in question. What made them not call him was doubts about his honesty. He has good qualities; they have seen that some with whom they were not satisfied have developed successfully in the missions. They are looking forward to Odin's return. Bishop Mermillod has attracted a great number of priests at the retreat; the first, preached by Bishop de Charbonnel...

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Denavit received a registered letter for Odin; he thinks it is from England. Denavit does not know the amount enclosed; he will keep it until Odin says what to do with it. The Superior has not yet returned; they expect him soon. No new subjects have presented themselves for Odin's mission since he left. They hope to see Odin soon. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

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They have decided to send an exeat for Jules Bertholin rather than dimissorial letters. Then there will be no need for new letters for the subsequent ordinations. They understand the reparations needed after so cruel a war. He would like to be able to announce some new missionaries, but he cannot. Odin must again cross the ocean or have his representative visit the seminary and win their hearts. Father Duplay is very well for his seventy-eight years. :: VI-2-j A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents He received Odin's letter of December 1, brought by Father F. Bellanger, S.M.. He was happy to hear that Jules Bertholin gives Odin hope and that all will end well. He takes advantage of the departure of Father Charles Padey to write this letter; he will write again is Bellanger visits them again before leaving. At the moment Denavit does not have a seminarian inclined to go to America. Recently a missionary from New Mexico spoke to the Community in favor of Santa Fé and took 10 seminarians...

Scope and Contents They read Odin's letter of October, and are pained by the unfortunate state of Odin's diocese and all America. Denavit wrote Odin several months ago, but apparently he has not received it. He also wrote Bishop Claude Mary Dubuis, C.M. several times, but he believes he did not receive them. They saw Father Augustine Gaudet, O.M.I. who is chaplain of the Sisters at Brownsville, who had left Texas in June. He, Dubuis, and Fathers Buffard, Savoie. And John Anthony Forest, had a good trip. Gaudet...

Scope and Contents Father Anthony Durier and Father Auguste Langlois arrived yesterday. All learned with pleasure of Odin's restored health. They are glad that religion has made progress in the midst of so much calamity. Since Odin needs missionaries, Denavit is going to offer one who has been talking to Denavit since the first of the year. He is 20; he has no great talents but is filled with ardor and devotion. He entered the Marists and stayed a year, then they sent him to the Seminary with very good...

Scope and Contents They saw Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, C.M.. He went with the Superior to Cardinal Louis Jacques Maurice de Bonald who consented to Odin's performing the ceremony of consecration at the seminary. Dubuis desires November 21, feast of the Presentation, or Sunday the 23rd. Catalan requires a Sunday or a feast of an apostle, and Denavit does not know if the consecration can be performed on the Presentation. Odin should tell him what he thinks. He is going to write to Bishop John Paul Francis Felix...

Scope and Contents They now have Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, C.M.. He communicated Odin's letter to him. Dubuis believes that Cardinal Barnabo's brief is sufficient and he believes that it would be actually more difficult to perform the consecration in America. Bishop Armand Francis Maurice de Charbonnel who was to assist, is free only until the 23rd; he is going to preach Advent far from Lyons. It will be necessary to address another bishop. Bishop John Paul Francis Felix Lyonnet, who is at Paris, wrote that...

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This letter arrived immediately after Odin's departure. Denavit read it and sent the contents to Dubuis, telling him that Odin had no notice about having an interview with Marziou. ` A.L.S. French 2pp. :: VI-2-g A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents Not knowing where Odin is Denavit writes to the seminary of Dublin to ask J.M. Giraud to forward it. He takes advantage of this address to send three letters he received for Odin about the uncertainty in regard to Father Claude M. Dubuis', C.M. bulls. The papers gave an account of the consistory but did not mention either Galveston or Dubuis. It is very unpleasant for Dubuis and his pastor was very imprudent in proclaiming him bishop. Odin should perhaps write to Cardinal Barnabo. Dubuis has...

Scope and Contents As Odin had authorized he opened a letter from Rome; it is from Cardinal Alexander Barnabo and in Latin in the form of a brief. The gist of this letter, which he does not venture to forward for fear that Odin is no longer in Ireland and that it will be lost, announces that, touched by Odin's reasons, Pope Pius IX has named Father Claude Mary Dubuis, C.M. bishop of Galveston and that he has decided to expedite in this regard some apostolic letters in the form of a brief. Barnabo adds in...

Scope and Contents He wrote to Odin five or six days ago at the Hotel Fenelon and the carrier brought others also. From now on he will address them to Mr. Boiteux. Their young men are impatiently awaiting news of the day of departure. Bishop Claude M. Dubuis, C.M. met with an agent of Victor Marziou with whom he was quite dissatisfied. The agent demanded immediate payment of 20,000 francs. Dubuis refused and told him he would pay only at Le Havre after having seen and visited the ship, and he asks Odin to pay...

Scope and Contents He fears the last letter he sent to Odin in Ireland was not received. He told him that they had received a letter in the form of a brief from Cardinal Alexander Bernabo who, by a dispensation from Pope Pius IX authorized Odin to consecrate Bishop -elect Claude Mary Dubuis C.M. before the reception of apostolic letters. Now he sends a copy of the brief. As for the time of consecration, if Odin wishes to have Bishop Armand Francis Maurice de Charbonnel for one of his assistants, he will not be...

Scope and Contents Denavit received Odin's letter. They do not have any letters addressed to him, only a package of newspapers from New Orleans. He just accompanied the Superior Father Duplay to the mountains of the Loire where he left him. Duplay will return only in five or six weeks. Denavit hopes that Odin can find some good missionaries. He will be able to find them at Lyons only after the vacation and when he has spoken to their seminarians. He fears there will not be many. Father Claude Mary Dubuis, C.M....

Scope and Contents Denavit forwards no enclosure the letters from New Orleans and he has another which Father Claude M. Dubuis, C.M. advised him to keep until Odin's return. Dubuis remained with them only two hours. He wrote to Odin from the seminary and Denavit sent the letter, as he directed, to Cardinal Barnabo, However, as indicated by Odin's letter, Denavit sends these to Monte Citorio. The superior Father Duplay is with his family and will return in two weeks; Odin will see him on his return. Denavit has...

Scope and Contents Denavit first sent by train all the letters that have arrived for Odin during his absence. They are fairly numerous and except for 2 or 3 defections, he believes that all the replies are affirmative. He replied provisionally to all the letters, except those which gave their resignation, in order to encourage them to be patient. He will send to Ambierle all the letters which arrive up to the 20th. Bishop Claude Mary Dubuis, C.M. is not at Lyons but they will see him tomorrow and make him...

Scope and Contents Denavit has had two letters from Odin, the first from Turin about the loss of his trunk and the second from Acqui telling of its recovery. There are several letters awaiting Odin here. He has received from Father Gilbert Raymond the will and death certificate of Father Stephen Rousselon . They expect Odin next week. Father Duplay will regret not seeing Odin as he left several days ago for a month with his family. They also are expecting Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis . Among the young men Odin...

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Denavit sends him two very pressing letters one enclosed which he received from Angers. They concern Odin. He presumes he received the box containing all the letters. They expect him for Christmas. Bishop Claude Mary Dubuis, C.M. should be at Tarare today, and at Ambierle with Odin next Thursday. ` A.L.S. French 1p. ` Enclosure:

Scope and Contents They were happy at the seminary to receive news of Lunel but sad to see how his Bishop is treated. All send their respects and share his trials. Lunel is to remember Denavit to Fathers Rousselon and Moulard. All here are well but are uneasy about a law on the subject of freedom of education being considered in the Chamber and which it is feared may be fatal for religion. There are hardly any of Lunel's friends at the seminary; they have finished their theology and left. However Mr. Bouiller...

Scope and Contents They have not received any news of Odin since his transfer to New Orleans. But now Father Claude M. Dubuis, C.M. announces that Odin is coming to Lyons to look for missionaries. The letter was well received in the community and he hopes he will not fail to find subjects. They have not yet learnt who his successor at Galveston will be, nor have they had any news of Texas for two years. They are often asked, especially by the relatives of Father John Claude Neraz Neyras who have not heard from...

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Leray's letter of September 21 only arrived on the 30th and, although Dénecé wrote to him at Lake Charles, the letter was returned to him yesterday. Seeing that Leray is to confirm at Loreauville on the 13th, he writes again and would like to have confirmation at Bayou Terrebonne, and Friday at Petit-Caillou. :: VI-3-c A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents He has never in his life seen such misery as is rampant this year. It has been 3 and ½ years since he came to this post, and although life has been difficult, he is not hard to please. He hopes little by little to pay off the debts on the church he had built at Terrebonne . He has not received any response to his last two letters and asks Odin to notify him a month in advance if he is coming for Confirmation. He performed a mixed marriage on June 13 between Francis Viguerie, son of Jean...

Scope and Contents Bad weather forced Dénecé to spend a month with the pastor at Houma. There he baptized many children, heard some confessions, made burials, etc. so that he was less "new." He finally came here on horseback on December 10; they are taking up a collection for a house for him. The chapel is far from being finished; he hopes to get more suitable land for a chapel, a cemetery and house. He talked to a rich planter at Houma, who, though a Protestant, is very generous. The people are excellent but...

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Not receiving a response to the letters he has sent he thinks that they have not arrived or that Odin has not been able to reply yet. He asks him to reply by the bearer of this letter. He is a good man from Terrebonne, one of Dénecé's trustees. He can tell Odin about the congregation and the church Dénecé has had built. Dénecé sends wishes for the New Year and asks Odin to send some intentions with this gentleman. Dénecé hopes to go to see Odin soon. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Since he is still finishing work on the interior of the church at Terrebonne, he cannot leave at present. He hopes to come see Odin as soon as possible after this work, however. He had the happiness of singing the first high mass in the new church on January 26. The church was packed for the Mass. Next week he is going to convert the old church into a school. He hopes, after finishing the new church completely, to build a small house near the school so that boarding students can be taken in....