Seattle University - Aegis Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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an ru. Utrtnr (Barrmid. 3. A ptonrrr of (CatlioUr eburatton in $rattlr anb tlir fnuubrr of Prattle College. iue gratefully brbicatr tine number of Sljr $Ialeotra. : : : :

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REV. VICTOR CAR RAND, S. J. (From an ol»l print)

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8 T II E P A L E S T R A Snimnii IJirtnr darranin, . 3. TO Mgr. Prefontainc belongs the distinction of having built the first Catholic Church in Seattle. In November. 1867, this missionary, whose field extended over the Puget Sound district, from Cape Flattery to Stcilacoom on one side, and British Columbia on the other, and who often visited the different villages along this scope of country, concluded to make his headquarters in Seattle. Having rented a house for a residence, he turned most of it into a temporary chapel, where about half a dozen of his faith met on Sundays to worship. With the assistance of friends a small church was erected on 3rd Avc. South and Washington St. From that date his congregation began to increase so rapidly that the modest edifice was no longer sufficient to accommodate all who desired to attend the services. To look after the interests of the rapidly increasing Catholic community in Seattle, Right Rev. Kgidius Jlinger appealed for help to the secular and regular clergy of the East. And it was in answer to the call of the Master that the harvest was large but the laborers were few that the Rev. Victor Garrand, who was then laboring in the Yakima Valley, arrived in Seattle to exercise his ministry in this new portion of the Lord’s vineyard. He made his headquarters at St. Francis Hall, then located on 6th and Spring. The building was rented from Right Rev. Prefontainc for a period of time until the Jesuit Fathers could provide themselves a suitable location in the city. On Sept. 27, 1801, the formal opening of the new place was made as church and school. Fr. Swecre came at this time to assist Fr. Garrand, and three sisters of the Holy Names, Sisters Michael, John Chrysostom, and Claudia, took charge of the school. The school opened with 75 boys and 30 girls. In the month of April of 1893, an impressive ceremony took place at the corner of Marion and Broadway, commemorating the laying of the cornerstone of the future Seattle College. Only the pioneers of those days know of the heroic self-sacrifices, the bitter privations and wearying toil entailed by Fr. Garrand in his new undertaking. For the lack of funds the building was discontinued and the lone basement stood for a year in what was then still a shaggy wilderness. A small frame structure adjoining the property was bought by Fr. Garrand and it served for a time a very useful purpose. 'I’bc building was resumed in the month of July, 1894. and on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, of the same year, an event occurred which cheered the heart and sweetened the toils of Fr. Garrand, and will long be remembered by the early Catholic laity of Seattle. A large concourse of people was present at the first services held in the new building. Fr. Sthoo!, C. S. S. R.. delivered a powerful and eloquent oration to the first worshipers in the newly erected chapel of the Immaculate Conception. Classes were resumed in some of the rooms of the new building and to accommodate the large crowd of pupils, the frame structure, which was formerly an orphan asylum and had been bought recently by Fr. Garrand, was turned into a school. In August. 1894, two scholastics of the Society of Jesus. Mr. P. Mahoney and Mr. C. Brustcn. arrived in Seattle to begin the work of higher education at Seattle College. Those who knew Fr. Garrand speak of h;m in fond recollection of the vigor and enthusiasm that impelled him to work for the education of the Catholic youth in Seattle. Of a frank and generous nature, open and vivacious, his character was nevertheless lovable and kind. Any one who made his acquaintance came to love him.