Catholic Problems in Western Canada

retary for the Organization

on of the Faith throughout the world, without being deeply moved by the yearnings of the apostolic heart of our Common

and noble work of Father Fraser, for Chinese Missions, was greeted everywhere; the recent foundation and marvellous development of the community of the "Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception" in Montreal, for service among the lepers of China; the wonderful response which the call of

in the Church of God, we beg to submit a few suggestions which m

Wh

tion alone can enlist and keep secure the sympathies of patrons and members, co-ordinate the various forces, and call into play, when necessary, new and fr

tion, there is something more essential in the matter under consideration, and that is the human contact and continued influence of a "field-organizer." An extensive organization without this factor will not be efficient, will not last. As Floyd Keeler wrote in "America" (July 10, 1920): "It is the personal equation between the organizer and the various units of the Society that count

in our Catholic papers, under the heading of: "Fas est ab hoste doceri." . . . Every denomination has its field-organizers ent

in the dioceses of New York and Boston, leaped into prominence, and headed by generous contributions the list of the whole world? How did that change come about? Wher

of the Church in Canada. If on the contrary, as in the past, we content ourselves with an occasional appeal for missions, a collection now and then, a spasmodic effort here and there, a subscription to a Catholic paper or missionary magazine, the work for Home and Foreign missions will remain exterior to the corporate life of the Church,

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d, by an intelligent and well thought-out propaganda, the knowledge of the Home and Foreign Missions and of the responsibil

be accomplished until the Catholic people fully grasp and intensely feel what their help and co-operation-however little it may be-mean to the Church, to the salvation of souls, to the honour of our Blesse

dence, sum up striking statistics and draw burning comparisons for the effective presentation of his ca

y the recurrence, at stated intervals, of the printed message. Missionary literature receive

ization. In each diocese, with the permission, authority, and co-operation of the Ordinary, he will establish the Societies recommended by our Holy Father in

e. For loving sons and faithful priests of the Church of God the desire of the Sovereign Pontiff is a command. This, we think, could be eas

ons, the spiritual favours and wonderful privileges which the "Union" grants to its members, together with the explicit desire of the Holy See, these are so many motives and incentives, which s

ty of each parish

of the Faith"-for

xtension"-for

s of 10 or 20 members the monthly fee, stipulated for each society. This monthly collection comes as a reminder and is more effective, both morally and financially, than an annual collection taken up in the Church, as is now the prevailing custom i

the kind and sympathetic hearts of children will take in missionary work. The results obtained by the distribution of mite boxes are marvellous. To quote an example g

n the soul of the child. This is far more important than his actual financial contribution, and at the same time it prepares hi

k in the United States, and will prove soon to be a potent factor in the Missionary activities of the Church across the boundary. 250 delegates from various institutions of high

s, in the diocese. There all lines will converge, gathering information, bringing results; from there, as from the power-station, will go out to the workers in the field, enthusiasm and energy. "Unity," says F. Kinsman, "cannot be created by agitated fragments of a circumference; it must issue fro

is movement. We all know that the salvation of souls is above all a supernatural process. We may

at large, in the Church of Canada. How many young men and women could not the field-secretary find he

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ns, and backed with the authority and sympathy of the Ordinary, are bound to make this work a success. There is a wave of the missionary spirit passing over the Church of God. The clergy and the people are eager to

as a whole, in Canada and throughout the world, receive more benefit from the life of a priest entirely dedicated to this work of Missions, than if it were given to a specific parish or diocese. Even were a parish or small country mission to be deprived for the time being of a resident pastor, should not that sacri

solely to this proposed work. At this price alone will he make it a

se forces form an invisible army of reserves on which the Church is to draw, to fill, as it were, the depleted ranks of Her Missionary units throughout the world. The lack