Codex Lethbridge
Transcription: 24
Transcription:
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The reverend Father Royer from Quebec preached the retreat to twenty nine priests and nineteen lay brothers.
The retreat being terminated we, at once, returned to our missions. A secular priest Mr Gagnon, accompanied us, and will have charge of the Catholic population of Pincher Creek or MacLeod. We have no rain in Lethbridge for several months. Everything is drying up.
Small pox are actually in Victoria … over forty cases.
This Horrible disease has been brought over to Calgary, where five people are infected with it – The good Sisters Grey-nuns are nursing them in their tents, some two miles out of that town.
There has been a case of smalpox [sic] in MacLeod also… The patients, both in Calgary and McLeod are almost out of danger, and no new cases have occurred since. July 25th
The good sisters, Faithful companions of Jesus, have the happiness of possessing in their midst. Rev & Mother McGibson sent by the Mother General of their order, to visit their different houses of Canada. A new Convent is soon to be opened at Rat Portage. As they can give no more subjects to the Lethbridge Convent, we shall have no boarders hereafter.
Five case of smalpox [sic] are reported from Gretna south of Winnipeg… One man has died of the horrible disease.
Aug! 22. Father VanTighem is visiting the different missions West of Lethbridge. Capt. McDonnell kindly offers the father a place in his rigg and in a few hours they arrive at MacLeod. It is the reverend Mr Gagnon, a secular priest, who is in charge of this mission for the time being, as the Rev & Father Lacombe has taken permanent charge of St Michel’s – Mission, Pincher Creek.
MacLeod, which has now a railway, is menaced of having its townsite once more removed or changed, The
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The station of the railway being at three miles distant from the present townsite. But the people seems to be resolute not to change for the present, which, perhaps, is wise. Arrived in MacLeod in the afternoon, Father VanTighem continues his journey with Revd Mr Gagnon to the Piegan Reserve, 15 miles distance. This mission has very much improved materially; the house is very confortable [sic], the surroundings, especially the gardens, are very well cared for. Rev & Father Foisy and Frère Johan Berchmans are valiant workers, notwithstanding the difficulties they meet with. For about ten years the missionaris [sic] are working in their midst and no conversions have been operated. The Fathers baptise the little children, teach them in their youth, but when arrived at maturity they follow the example of their heathen parents.
Augt 23th [sic] [written in the front margin] Fathers Foisy and Van Tighem leaving the Piegan Mission in the morning, take the direction towards Pincher Creek to visit Rev & Father Lacombe. Rev Mr Gagnon returns to McLeod, to administer the last Sacraments to an old man dying.
About eight miles west of the Piegan Mission, Father Foisy has built another schoolhouse where he teaches himself the little Indians of that camp, while Frère John continues the same tedious work at the previous mission. We pay a visit to this new school, which consist of a small log building, very neatly finished, a stable etc… all the work has been done by the Missionaris [sic] himself. After a short visit at this place we proceded [sic] to Pincher Creek, where we found Rev & Father Lacombe at work. He is building an addition to the Church, which will be used as a residence for some time.
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The reverend Father Royer from Quebec preached the retreat to twenty nine priests and nineteen lay brothers.
The retreat being terminated we, at once, returned to our missions. A secular priest Mr Gagnon, accompanied us, and will have charge of the Catholic population of Pincher Creek or MacLeod. We have no rain in Lethbridge for several months. Everything is drying up.
Small pox are actually in Victoria … over forty cases.
This Horrible disease has been brought over to Calgary, where five people are infected with it – The good Sisters Grey-nuns are nursing them in their tents, some two miles out of that town.
There has been a case of smalpox [sic] in MacLeod also… The patients, both in Calgary and McLeod are almost out of danger, and no new cases have occurred since. July 25th
The good sisters, Faithful companions of Jesus, have the happiness of possessing in their midst. Rev & Mother McGibson sent by the Mother General of their order, to visit their different houses of Canada. A new Convent is soon to be opened at Rat Portage. As they can give no more subjects to the Lethbridge Convent, we shall have no boarders hereafter.
Five case of smalpox [sic] are reported from Gretna south of Winnipeg… One man has died of the horrible disease.
Aug! 22. Father VanTighem is visiting the different missions West of Lethbridge. Capt. McDonnell kindly offers the father a place in his rigg and in a few hours they arrive at MacLeod. It is the reverend Mr Gagnon, a secular priest, who is in charge of this mission for the time being, as the Rev & Father Lacombe has taken permanent charge of St Michel’s – Mission, Pincher Creek.
MacLeod, which has now a railway, is menaced of having its townsite once more removed or changed, The
[End page]
[Right page]
The station of the railway being at three miles distant from the present townsite. But the people seems to be resolute not to change for the present, which, perhaps, is wise. Arrived in MacLeod in the afternoon, Father VanTighem continues his journey with Revd Mr Gagnon to the Piegan Reserve, 15 miles distance. This mission has very much improved materially; the house is very confortable [sic], the surroundings, especially the gardens, are very well cared for. Rev & Father Foisy and Frère Johan Berchmans are valiant workers, notwithstanding the difficulties they meet with. For about ten years the missionaris [sic] are working in their midst and no conversions have been operated. The Fathers baptise the little children, teach them in their youth, but when arrived at maturity they follow the example of their heathen parents.
Augt 23th [sic] [written in the front margin] Fathers Foisy and Van Tighem leaving the Piegan Mission in the morning, take the direction towards Pincher Creek to visit Rev & Father Lacombe. Rev Mr Gagnon returns to McLeod, to administer the last Sacraments to an old man dying.
About eight miles west of the Piegan Mission, Father Foisy has built another schoolhouse where he teaches himself the little Indians of that camp, while Frère John continues the same tedious work at the previous mission. We pay a visit to this new school, which consist of a small log building, very neatly finished, a stable etc… all the work has been done by the Missionaris [sic] himself. After a short visit at this place we proceded [sic] to Pincher Creek, where we found Rev & Father Lacombe at work. He is building an addition to the Church, which will be used as a residence for some time.
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