The diocese of New York has 80,000 colored people within its limits.
The vast majority of these dwell on the Bermuda Islands which are under
Archbishop Corrigan’s jurisdiction. In New York City there are 3000
colored Catholics, with one church devoted to their use. Their spiritual
interests are cared for by two priests of the diocese. Two Benedictine
Fathers are in charge at Nassau. A flourishing “school and home” has
been opened at Rye, N. Y., which is directed by ten Dominican Sisters.
The three schools at Nassau are well spoken of as will be seen by the
following letter. The Sisters of Charity have charge of them. The labor
of these two Sisterhoods in this arduous mission work has been untiring.
The Sisters of Charity have devoted their energies to the colored people
without remuneration, and have been supported by the zeal and generosity
of the Mother House at Mount St. Vincent’s.
The following interesting letter is from Archbishop Corrigan:
“I have the pleasure of returning to you the blank form with regard to
the colored Missions. The Rev. Jno. E. Burke, of St. Benedict’s Home,
has given the facts relating to his Mission, and I myself add a few
details regarding the Mission at Nassau, which I visited last month for
the purpose of administering the Sacrament of Confirmation. I found our
Free Schools to be the best on the Island. They are attended by over
200 children, all of them negroes, and nearly all non-catholics. Their
parents are anxious that these children should have the benefit of a
good education, and especially of that training and gentleness which
is imparted by devoted religious teachers. The Sisters who conduct the
schools are popular with all classes of the community. During my stay
at Nassau, I visited the schools several times, in company with other
clergymen, and was a witness to the surprising proficiency of the pupils,
and was present at an exhibition given by the colored children, which was
attended by the most distinguished residents of Nassau. Among them were
Sir Ambrose and Lady Shea, the Colonial Secretary, Captain Jackson and
his wife, the Attorney General and the Chief Justice. They unanimously
expressed themselves as surprised and pleased beyond measure with the
results obtained in so short a time from such unpromising material. Later
on this exhibition was repeated for the parents of the pupils, much to
their delight and gratification.
“The hope of the future of this Mission is in the schools, and,
therefore, with God’s blessing it is proposed this year to erect another
building, in order to accommodate the large number of applicants, whom
we are now obliged to refuse. During the month of November, 1891, a
kindergarten was opened in Nassau. It is already overcrowded. We propose
to receive young children in this kindergarten, and then gradually lead
them on to the other branches of an ordinary education. Religious
instruction is regularly given, and I assisted one Sunday at the Sunday
School, which was composed almost entirely of non-catholics, who went
there of their own accord, and who answered the catechism in such a way
as might bring a blush to many of our more favored children.
“Recently a second Benedictine Father sailed for Nassau to assist Rev.
Father Chrysostom, O. S. B., who is in charge of the Mission. On the
whole, I felt very well repaid for the discomforts of the journey by sea
and the distance traveled, (nearly 2400 miles altogether), on witnessing
the results already accomplished. I had the pleasure of confirming 20
children and adults, all of whom, except one, were colored, and all of
whom except this one, were converts. On Holy Saturday Father Chrysostom
expects to baptize 20 more Neophytes. As the colored Catholics of Nassau
are few and poor, it is impossible for them to contribute to the support
of the Mission, so that for the present it must be carried on as a
labor of christian love and self-sacrifice. There are many hardships
connected with the Mission, particularly in the long summer months when
the thermometer rises to 160 degrees in the sun. There are privations in
the way of obtaining proper food, as the fresh meats and fresh vegetables
must be imported from this city and communication is rare from the
month of May to November. However, the Grace of God enables the good
missionaries and the devoted sisters to endure these difficulties and to
bear them cheerfully for the glory of His name.”
The New York City Mission carries a large debt on the Home for Destitute
Colored Children, located at Rye. It receives children from other
dioceses. One hundred children are now cared for and educated within its
walls. Father Burke who is at its head asks the Commission for $1500.
Besides this, the building of a new school at Nassau is deemed necessary,
thus calling for an outlay of about $2000. The prospects for future good
in this diocese look encouraging.