Calendared content

Scope and Contents The seminarist Mr. Kelly who was sent by the Bishop to replace Mr. Cullen has commenced his schoolwork on Wednesday, April 22. He has 18 pupils. Everyone is pleased that the Bishop has lowered the tuition, and it seems that the former high price was really the cause that Mr. Cullen's school was in such disfavor. Mr. Kelly is staying with Father Baraga in the priest's house. One week he gets his board from Mr. David Cottrell, the second week from Mr. George Cottrell and the third from Mr....

Scope and Contents Father Baraga informs the Bishop that he had contracted a fever at St. Clair River at the occasion of a ten day mission at, Black river and as there were no good doctors, he went to Detroit a week ago to be treated by Dr. White who had cured him entirely. He feels his old self again and thanks God that he has given him such a healthy constitution. The school at St. Clair is flourishing much better since the price has been lowered. Mr. Kelly has now 24 pupils in the school of the priest's...

Scope and Contents Baraga read the strange statement in the "Boston Pilot" that Pope Pius IX will confirm only one out of the 12 new bishops whom the National Council had appointed and that is Father James Roosevelt Bayley who is to become Bishop of Newark, New Jersey. If the Holy Father knew the spiritual misery of the Upper Peninsular he would have confirmed the proposed vicariate before all other Sees. Baraga intended to go to Europe immediately after his consecration to select a few priests for Lake...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga reports to the Bishop the news about Lyon and Rome. When Mr. Didier Petit of Lyon came to paris last December, Baraga gave him everything that the Bishop had given him for Lyon. Petit promised to make the best use of it. When Baraga came to Lyon in February he expected to find everything in order and printed, but none of it was done. The members of the council of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith at Lyon were more interested at present in the Chinese missions than...

Scope and Contents Baraga left L'Anse on June 16, to go to Lapointe. On his way he stopped at Fort Wilkins as there are many Irish soldiers who are anxious to have a priest from time to time. Concerning the potatoes which the Bishop had promised to send, they have not arrived. A boat came to L'Anse on May 6, but the Captain said no potatoes were shipped from Saut. No other boat came since. Baraga is therefore obliged to send two big canoes to Saut where Mr. Brush bought for him 50 minots of potatoes, a dollar...

Scope and Contents Baraga feels mortified because, as Bishop Rese had told him in a letter of October 15, the transport of the box from Austria sent to by his relative had cost $100. Baraga had written to his relations not to send him boxes anymore but the money instead. Baraga will try to come to Detroit this winter. Then he will tell the Bishop all the news and troubles of his mission., P.S. Father Baraga asks the Bishop that the box from Austria, which, as he was informed, had meanwhile arrived in Detroit,...

Scope and Contents Baraga acknowledges the receipt of the Bishop's letter of September 6th. He regrets that the Bishop's boat did not stop at Baraga's mission and he does not expect a visit from the Bishop any more this year as it is too late in the season for a voyage in such wilderness. Regarding the cooking-stove mentioned in the Bishop's letter, Baraga had decided that he does not need one. He has sold his house on Mr. Campeau's side and lives now in a small house on the Indian side near the chapel and as...

Scope and Contents Baraga asks of Badin to forward the enclosed letter by post to Bishop Frederick Rese and to pay for the postage and to add the amount to his bill. He is addressing this letter to Father Badin, because he supposes that Bishop Rese is not in Detroit. He also asks Badin to go to the bank with the check which Rese had sent him and cash it and send him the money at a good opportunity, that is, either by Mr. Godfroi who will soon come to Grand River or by Mr. Campau. Furthermore Baraga asks Badin...

Scope and Contents

Baraga acknowledges the receipt of the $290, and thanks Father Badin for having been always so kind, but especially for helping him pay his bill by ordering 50 Masses to be said for Father Badin's intention. Baraga has not yet received his missal, etc. Mr. Godfroi will come back with his merchandise. Baraga and his people wish very much to have the visit of the Bishop this summer. :: III-2-g A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo.

Scope and Contents Baraga repeats he wants Father Badin, 1. to pay for this letter and add the amount to his bill., 2. to cash the check of $300. which he has sent him in a letter., 3. to take from that money all he owes him for letters., 4. to buy for him at Steavens 4 pounds of iron wire number 20., 5. to send him the rest of the money through Mr. Campau when this gentleman returns from New York., Mr. Antoine Campau, who is bringing him this letter, will tell him all the news from Grand River Rapids. ::...

Scope and Contents Baraga wrote a letter to the Bishop c/o Mr. Choiselat in Paris, France, in which he told him about his European trip. He asks the Bishop to take charge of the distribution of his Indian books. Father Thavenet, an old missionary of the Algonkins found serious mistakes in the expressions about the Holy Eucharist. Baraga promised him that they would be corrected before they are distributed. He has already corrected a great number of them during the twelve days he has been in Havre and he will...

Scope and Contents Again Father Baraga asks for a chalice and a paten, because he had left both with Father Viszoczky. He has to use his ciborium in place of the chalice and a little communion cloth of 6 inch square in place of a paten. If it should be too late to send the chalice now, he would like to have it as soon as navigation is possible again. Father Baraga is happy to be at La Pointe and so is everybody else. He thanks the Bishop for having him sent here and invites him earnestly to visit the next...

Scope and Contents Baraga asks the Bishop to be told definitely whether he should remain through the winter and for good in La Pointe or go back to L'Arbre Croche during the winter months. Fr. Baraga is thoroughly wiling to obey the Bishop's order, but he does not like to be left so uncertain. He thinks however that the presence of a priest in this mission on Lake Superior is necessary throughout the year. Concerning the Grand River Mission, Michigan Father Baraga assures the Bishop that he left it without...

Scope and Contents Baraga informs the Bishop of the great success of his mission and the ill success of the Presbyterian mission. The latter have only converted one family in the last five years and even then they were converted in Sault Ste. Marie and live now with their minister who keeps and clothes them entirely. But even so some of them come on Sunday to Mass and much prefer Baraga's Sunday School to the instruction of their own minister. One grown up girl comes regularly on Sundays. If he could offer...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga asks the Bishop's advice in two things: 1 He asks about Canadians or half-breed Catholics, who spend the winter in their own territory but the summer in La pointe and there live together with women without being married. He asks what he should do if they do not listen to any of his exhortations either to be married in church or to separate. He had forbidden them to go to church to make them see the horror of their crimes. But on the other hand that deprives them of the sermons...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga is quite pleased with his little chapel because it was built in such a short time and is not only paid for but through the Fur Company even overpaid. One priest's house is not yet finished. This is the fault of the firm who had at first promised to erect the chapel and the priest's house at the same time. The building which Mr. Michel Cadotte had given to Baraga for a priest's house was started, but then they stopped working and no urging has induced them to keep their...

Scope and Contents Baraga apologizes to Abbott for having neglected to secure a license from Henry Schoolcraft while he was in Mackinaw and thanks him for having obtaine4d one for him. As he is not sure whether his license to celebrate marriages must also be confirmed by Schoolcraft, he sends it to Abbott asking him to attend to it and send it back to him as soon as possible. The beginning of his new mission is very prosperous. His chapel is almost finished, it measures 50 feet by 20 and is 18 feet high. It...

Scope and Contents Baraga is sorry to have to inform the Bishop that Father Angelus Van Paemel will not become an Indian missionary. Baraga is quite displeased. Van Paemel has given up the study of the Indian language and intends to return to Detroit as soon as possible. Father Francis X. Pierz will be very disappointed. Baraga's mission in L'Anse is considerably increasing. 25 persons are preparing for baptism, besides the annual increase of newly born children. It would be a pity if this mission be...

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Bishop's notes of Feb. 8 and 12 some days ago. He is grateful that the Bishop had advised Father Angelus Van Paemel to remain on the Indian mission, who is an excellent priest for the missions. Van Paemel will remain in L'Anse about 3 months more, and then go to L'Arbre Croche, for 3 reasons: 1. He is destined for the Ottawa missions and their dialect is quite different from the Chippewa dialect. He should study their language there. 2. L'Arbre Croche is a better place to...

Scope and Contents

Baraga has decided to write his Dictionary only in 2 languages, Indian and English, omitting the French. He has 3 reasons: 1. The Dictionary is connected with the Grammar which is only in English and Indian. 2. It will take him 15 months to write it, but fully 2 years if he would add French to it. 3. A third language would increase the printing expenses by a third. Baraga likes to know soon if he is doing right. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga was requested by a young man who died in L'Anse at the mines to forward $ 56.40 to his mother in Switzerland. Baraga asks the Bishop to have the amount sent to the person named on the outside of the letter enclosed, together with this letter. He wants a receipt of the money enclosed, to show to those who requested him to forward it. He also begs the Bishop that he request the persons through whom he will send the money to write plainly the direction on their letter to Mr. Biser and in...

Scope and Contents

Baraga refers to the Bishop's letter of Feb. 8 in which the Bishop allows Baraga $150.- for this season, besides the 2 money orders on Messrs. Rood and Brady. Baraga has now written the last 2 orders on this amount. He enumerates 6 orders which he has written for the $150.- payable to Messrs. Barbeau, Crebassa, Senter, Brady interest, Barbeau, Bendry. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English lp. 8vo

Scope and Contents

Baraga wants the Bishop to ask Mr. Krug, a German bookseller in Detroit, if he is in need of the $60.- which Baraga has in cash, having sold some books for him. He cannot send the money now after the close of navigation. If Mr. Krug needs it urgently then the Bishop should advance it to him and Baraga will send it by the first opportunity. Perhaps this winter if a trustworthy man goes through Detroit. If not then on the first boat spring. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo.

Scope and Contents

Baraga sees the advantage of cash money, he has not issued a single order on the Bishop. He wants the yearly $300.- sent to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. at Sault Ste. Marie who will send it by boat to Baraga. He has received the the Ordo for 1852, together with the Faculties and Statutes. He has not yet received the Almanac of 1852 and would like to have it. :: III-2-h A.L.S. English 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga received the Rescripts and Statutes of Dec. 25, 1851 and of Jan. 20, 1852 and wants to make the following request: 1. To be dispensed from burning a lamp before the Holy Sacrament, as he goes to the different missions on Keweenaw Point 3 or 4 times a year and as often to those of Ontonagon. Every such missionary visit takes almost 3 weeks. Besides his oil is so coarse that the lamp requires constant care. It would be difficult to keep it burning all night. 2. In regard to the...

Scope and Contents

Baraga is constantly asked for the little Catechisms when he goes on a mission to the mining settlements. As he has none he asks the Bishop to send him a good number of them as soon as possible through Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J.. He also wants the Almanac for 1852, and the $300 which he was to receive this spring. It should be sent to Father Menet who will find a sure opportunity in Captain Bendry to send them to Baraga. :: III-2-h A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo.

Scope and Contents Baraga requests the Bishop to send the little box which he is sending with the letter to Vienna Austria by the surest opportunity. He also wants to know what to do about sick-calls to distant mining settlements. There are many Catholics on Keweenaw Point and Ontonagon. If every one that falls sick calls for a priest, it will be very hard on him. He does not think that he is obliged to answer such sick-calls, as he is not the regular pastor of all these distant congregations. He does for them...

Scope and Contents

Baraga reminds the Bishop that he has not yet received the $300.- for this spring or summer. He wants the money to be sent to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. who will forward it to him. It would be very distressing to him if he were not to receive that money as he has already made arrangements to make the payments in cash and not issue any orders on the Bishop. :: III-2-h A.L.S. Enlish 1p. 8vo

Scope and Contents Baraga thanks the Bishop for the note of July 14, which he received on July 30, and for sending the $300.- to Father Jean Baptist Menet S.J. who will forward it to him. Baraga is enclosing the School-Report, which the Bishop should address to whom it may concern. In regard to the little box destined for Archbishop Vincent Eduard Milde Vienna, Baraga is sorry to hear that it has not yet been sent away. He wants the Bishop to send it by railroad or boat to some acquaintance in New York who...

Scope and Contents Father Baraga arrived in L'Anse on Oct. 24. The Indians received him with joy, though at this time most of them were either pagans or Methodists. The new mission of St. Francis Xavier is doing well, many conversions were made and many are being prepared for baptism. A number of Methodists who have been in L'Anse for 10 years are becoming Catholics. On Christmas day he baptized 29 persons, almost all grown-ups. Altogether he has baptized 54. He is satisfied that he came here this winter as he...