A house was procured for the nuns on Weybosset Street and here work be- gan. Saint Francis Xavier's Academy, our own high school, had its beginning in this Convent, September. 1851. A second building was erected in 1856. The classes included every department from the kindergarten through the high school until 1910. when year by year the building was gradually given over to the increasing high school body. The present building, dedicated in 1929, permits the accommodation of six hundred students who come from every section of the State. Thus, we can judge from Saint Xavier's alone the im- portant factor the Order of the Sisters of Mercy has been in the development of Catholic Education. All down the years from the early days of Mother Xavier Warde to Mother Mary Matthew, the present Provincial of the Prov- ince of Providence, there has been constant progress, for the Sisters of Mercy are actively engaged in twenty-one Parishes throughout Rhode Island. Parishes were multiplied and several new churches were erected during the brief six years of Bishop O'Reilly's Episcopate. Then came Bishop McFarland to the See of Hartford. Despite the Civil War, the population of Rhode Island was growing by leaps and bounds. The increase in the Catholic body brought a corresponding increase in the number of churches. In 1879, Bishop Hendricken was consecrated Bishop of Providence, because in 1872, the Diocese of Hart- ford had been divided and Providence was made a separate See. Within two months. Bishop Hendricken had assumed the burden of the Episcopate which he was to bear for fourteen years. The most outstanding feature of his rule is the monument to his labors, one that will ever stand, SS. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, consecrated in 1886. On April 4. 1887, Rev. Matthew Harkins was consecrated Bishop of Providence. From the very beginning of his Episcopacy, Bishop Harkins bent his energies to the completion of the work which God had placed in his hands, and for thirty-five years was the spiritual director of the Diocese. Standing out at this time is the fact that Bishop Harkins especially cared for immigrants and did much for the progress of Catholic education. He exemplified the char- ity of the Church: and it was then that it was remarked by a judicious ob- server that Providence is the pearl among United States dioceses. In 1921. Bishop Harkins died. For two years preceding, he was assisted by Most Rev- erend William A. Hickey who was consecrated in 1919 as Coadjutor, with tight of succession. There had already been auxiliaries in the Diocese, Bishops Doran and Lowney, whose combined tenure of office was less than two years. In 1926. Bishop Hickey made his first announcement of plans for a Catho- lic Charity Fund. In the field of education, he stressed the need of Catholic schools. Outstanding in this development is our own Academy. No appraisal of the life of Bishop Hickey should overlook his zealous attitude towards the missions. In 1933, he was called to his reward, after having given his best to the betterment of the Church in Rhode Island. His absence since has been greatly felt and his kindly influence is missed by all. Catherine L. Leonard TTHnE- XAVIER»i9 3 6 o
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