Other Teaching Orders

The Third Order of St. Francis is rapidly growing in strength and usefulness in the United States. It comprises Priests, Brothers, Sisters, whose ordinary avocation is the training of youth of both sexes, and ministering to the sick and poor in hospitals. To the Archdiocese of Tuam, Ireland, the Catholic Church of America is indebted for the Brothers of this Order, who have established several communities, and conduct with great advantage academies and parochial schools in various dioceses. In 1847, Bishop O'Connor, of Pittsburg,(48) obtained six Brothers, who founded some communities of the Order in his diocese, the principal of which is Loretto, containing about forty Brothers, who conduct an extensive college in that city. This was the origin of this Order in the United States. In 1858, Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn applied to the Archbishop of Tuam for Brothers, and obtained two; and in the diocese of Brooklyn there are now about thirty of the brotherhood, conducting academies and parochial schools which are largely attended. They have opened a mission in Los Angelos, California, for the last four years; they have founded another in Elizabeth Port, New Jersey; and this year they have established a branch in Erie, Pennsylvania. Thus has the good seed from the old Catholic country fructified in this new domain of the Church.

As the educational necessities of Catholics increase, so in the same or a greater proportion does the Church display greater zeal and greater energy to supply the want. New Orders are constantly springing up for new fields of spiritual and intellectual labour. Thus the Congregation of the Holy Cross, founded in France in 1856, and approved by the Holy See in 1857, has established several flourishing educational institutions in the United States; its teaching ranging from the simplest elementary instruction up to the very highest standard of collegiate requirements. The Priests, who are called Salvatorists, from being specially consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, devote themselves exclusively to missions and the education of youth. The Brothers are devoted to the great work of religious instruction, with which, according to the circumstances and the necessities of their pupils, is combined practical training in various branches of industry. The Sisters, who are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Mary, educate female youth of all classes of society, and are also employed in hospitals and asylums. The Sisters already number more than 250 in the States.