Page 158 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert
P. 158
BISHOP SPALDING IN BRUGES I37
appeal was directed to volunteers who burned with a
feverish desire to spread the kingdom of Christ. A dedi
cated man, he sought dedicated men, worthy and able
to walk in the steps of apostles like Flaget, Nerinckx,
and Badin.
In calling on Mr. Ryken, the Bishop hoped for a
group of Brothers who would take charge of his Ca-
thedral parish school. This had been in operation $ince
September, 1846. The first teachers, three Franciscan
Brothers from Tuam, Ireland, had remained only a
year. In 1847, he and the late Bishop Flaget had pre-
vailed on the Jesuits to take over. To provide support
for the free-school, the had opened a pay-school,
Jesuits
St. Aloysius College. This venture did nor gain the
approval of their higher Superiors, especially the Su-
periorGeneral, who felt that the Missouri vice-province
was spreading itself too thin.
In June, 1852, the Jesuits announced rhat St. Aloysius
would not reopen that September. The Cathedral free-
school was not afiected: two of the Fathers assisted by a
scholastic or two carried on as usual. It was Bishop
Spalding's surmise that this arrangement would not
continue for long. If and when the Jesuits did with-
draw, it would be advantageous to have these Brothers
from Bruges ready to step in.