The diocese of New Orleans still continues to lead in the work of Negro
education. There are 80,000 colored Catholics in the diocese, 36 schools
open to colored children, a large orphan asylum and a home for aged
women. The schools are attended by over 2309 pupils. Two or three extra
schools are opened each year. Archbishop Janssens feels confident of the
future good results to come from his labor, in multiplying these colored
schools. His pithy letter is extremely interesting.
“This year I notice a decrease in infant baptisms. One year there are
more, another less. An average of a certain number of years would enable
us to draw a conclusion either one way or the other. During the last
year our schools have been increased by four new ones while we note an
increased attendance of 404 pupils. This is a consoling item. There is a
strong desire on the part of both priests and sisters to perform their
full duty towards colored schools. In many of our parishes the priests
are anxious to open schools, but the poverty of the parishes does not
allow it. If we had $20,000 to spend on this item alone, it would not
be adequate, by any means, to present and pressing wants. However, we
are making arrangements to open three schools, two of which will draw
a very large number of pupils, they being situated in parishes largely
made up of colored people. We have two churches especially for colored
people. One of these, at Petite Prairie, has long since existed but I was
not aware of it, until I made a visit there last year. One new Orphan
Asylum is so far finished that we have been able to transfer our orphan
girls there. It has cost $16,747, on which is a debt of $4000. God’s
Providence has visibly assisted us in this work. When the debt is paid,
we will furnish it according to plan, thus entailing a cost of $8000
more. It is of brick, simple but beautiful style, strongly constructed,
well ventilated, with a capacity for 150 orphans. This Asylum, more
than anything else, has lifted up our colored population in the city.
They feel grateful to the Church for it. At the laying of the corner
stone, the different colored societies paraded and there were about 7000
colored people in and around the premises, besides many whites. The old
Asylum has been fitted up at an expense of $1200, (no debt) and our aged
colored women have it for a home. It is able to accommodate about fifty
people. The year 1891, has been remarkable in the history of the Church’s
progress in this diocese, both for white and colored Catholics. _Deo
Gratias._
“Last September I made a pastoral visit to the chapel at Petite Prairie.
The road leads through swamps and is abominable in bad weather. We
were favored by a clear sky. Thirty colored cavaliers came to meet us,
to conduct us to the chapel, an old store, in a rather dilapidated
condition. The chapel was full to overflowing and the people delighted.
I confirmed sixty-nine colored people. This is an exclusively colored
settlement, most of its inhabitants being free-men before the war. They
are industrious, intelligent and very much devoted to the church and
religion. Here there are about 500 Catholics, but owing to the distance
from the church and the many occupations of the Pastor they have Mass but
once a month on a week-day. I was really surprised to find the children,
when examined, so well instructed in their religion. They are anxious
to have a resident priest, a school and a new church. But where are the
laborers? In another portion of the diocese, at Grossetete Bayou, there
is a somewhat smaller settlement of negroes, who before the war, were
sold in Maryland to Louisiana Protestant Planters. The history of their
trials for religion, their constancy to the faith, would embellish a
page in the history of the Martyrs of the Church. Much is said of the
inconstancy of the negro, but my experience convinces me, that where the
negro has been brought up in the knowledge and practice of religion,
he is as constant as any white Catholic under the circumstances. Bad
training and ignorance degenerate their mind and heart as it does with
the white population. We are trying to raise means to build a church
for that settlement. I regret very much that the Commission has been
obliged to diminish the allocation. Our work is increasing and the funds
diminishing. May the Lord provide some other means.”