Jewels from Jane, April 16

Enclosed is a letter from Father Saulnier to Bishop Rosati.

April 16, 1838

Here are my ideas: first of all, yesterday for the first time since I am a priest I have not announced to my parishoners the High Mass and Sunday Vespers for this reason that the Monday after Easter I will not have anybody to answer at the High Mass, the Sisters of St. Joseph excepted, who are forbidden to sing in Latin during the morning. Because of this prohibition of the Sisters of St. Joseph I reached the conclusion that I was not allowed to sing, because that day is not of obligation, in order to avoid having to answer my own singing.

My intention is the following:

1st That because the Sisters of St. Joseph have the permission to sing Sunday evening they may have it for the morning too, in case no singer, male or female, lay parishioner is available.

2nd The Sisters do not give me any help, or better are not of any help for the singing in the morning or in the evening (for any priest who may be here singing on Sunday) when lay singers, male or female, may answer for the officiating priest the few responses necessary.

By Rev. Edmund Saulnier [Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish]