Saint Augustine's Seminary

MAKING THE CASE FOR THE NEED
FOR A BLACK PRIESTHOOD

Father Wendel Became the most active supporter of a colored priesthood and had some interesting things to sayin a letter sent to Superior General Blum in 29 September 1919:

The prejudice of the Whites against the Blacks reaches deep into the Church.  People consider us second class priests, because we work for the despised Blacks.  But let me tell you what we have been able to do to convert the bishops and priests.  Six years ago we could not get permision to open a high school for Blackls, even though the Protestants haed eighteen in Mississippi alone.  Catholics did not have a singe one.  The reason the Bishop gave:  Why, what would my priests say if you ahve a high school for Blacks? We insisted on the need for high schools, and now we have five, one on each station... About six months ago [the bishop] was converted to the most important matter of all, one we scarcely dared to bring up directly but about which we kept writing and discussing whenever possible, namely the education of black priests.  We brought it up and prayerd about this and the Bishop went so far that he and other bishops publicly state that it was not advisable to ordain black priests, but that thye would petition Rome to allow them to ordain deacons, who then could marry, because the Blacks are unable to live a celibate life.  The matter never went to Rome; it was all so ridiculous and terribly insulting to Blacks.  We ignored this proposal and thought it laughable.  Even the Lord Bishops realized what nonsense they were talking.  So far has the conversion of the bsihops progressed that at their meeting in Baltimore at this very time they are discussing, officially, the question of Negro priests.  They finally realize that black priests are absolutely necessary if their people are ever going to be converted.  They have also come around to the.proposal of the SVD that these Negro priests must live in some sort of community and be kept together for the prejudice against This insight also marks a conversion on the part of the Bishops.  All this talk about conversion might seem to be a joke, but it is a bitter realityu that took much struggle and prayer, and will take even more before they are fully converted.  But at least everything is on the right track.  
     It is also the wish of all of us working here in the missions that the SVD work for this.  We have good schools which is a good basis for such work, encourage them.  As I see it, the education of black priests would be one of the most important contributions we could make here in America....

The Frist Seminary for African Americans

     Please allow us to begin this work by sending us personnel from over there, this the only thing we need.  Money will not be that much of a problem... Two months ago I went north on a four week begging tour and I turned up many benefactors for just such a
project.  They all kept talking about black priests.  When I got to Baltimore,  I met Cardinal Gibbons and he also urged me how muchy black priests were needed, and only German priests could do this.  American and Irish priests would never go into this work, with them will also be considered a nigger!"
     This reminds me of St. Paul, who become all things to all men for the sake of Christ. 

Wendel condludes his long letter:

             Fr. General, for the Lord's sake help us educate Blacks to the priesthood.
             The bishops, with all thier good will, realize that they are powerless, but the
             SVD can do it if we put our hand to the wheel.  At least let us make a small
             beginning with a boarding school. The details can be worked out Later as the
             project develops.  What we need in your permissions and your blessing.10

     In his letter of 21 October 1919, one of the very last he wrote to America before he died on 29 October, Blum grants them tentative permission, but wants to see a more complete plan sent though the provincial before he can give permanent permission.  Father Janser, in the meantime, offically asked Bishop Gunn for his permission, which he granted in view of the fact that these priests were to be religious rather than diocesan priest. 

     As superior of mission, Father Heick also sent a report to the generalte.  In this report on how things had gone in the Soiuth duirngthe war years.  he points out --almost in awe, as if finding it difficult to believe--the the mission had advanced.  They could hardley have expected this in nomal times, but in the war time?  As Germans?  Teaching American Children? They were not molested during the war, though peopole treated them with caution.  What a chance this would have been for thier enemies to have them thrown out of the missions, he exclaims.  he then points to the main reason for this success.  

           Gladly and with gratitude we recognize that we owe this success to the Sisters  
            [MissionaryServants of the Holy Spirit].  They were tireless in their work, which 
            demanded of them much sacrifice, time and real hardship.  Six years ago, they 
            were few who could take over the upper classes; now they ar eprepared to teach    
            high shdcool, even the more difficult subjects like Latin, mathermatics, physics
            and chemistry.  And on every one of our stations we now hafve a high school....
            It is now generally recognized in church circles and acknowledged that we were
            the first to seriously address the school problem [of. going beyond the elementary
            grades} and ahve real success. 11
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   10. This long report is preserved in Father Boener's Chronologium, 29 September 1919.
   11. Chronologium, 1 November 1919.