Jewels from Jane, July 5

Bloomington the 5th of July 1864

Dear Sr. St. John [Facemaz]

Your letter of the 30th of May is received in due time. Permit me to say that I am much pleased to know that a colony of your good Com. Are about to take charge of our institution [St. Joseph Academy]. I trust you will bless the undertaking. I shall be always willing and ready to help it in every way I can. I spoke to the Bishop last a week ago about the chaplain. I have no doubt but he will regulate that matter immediately

I think I can secure a halffare [unreadable word]for the Sisters coming to Bloomington. Please inform me how many are coming and on what day I may expect them to arrive.

The people are very anxious to see them here perminantly and expect that they will be able to compete successfully with the other institutions of learning in the city-- Begging to be remembered in your pious prayers and that of your holy community,
I remain affectionately

[Father] T. Kennedy

St. Joseph Academy, an elementary parochial school, was opened in 1864 in Holy Trinity Parish in Bloomington, IL and transferred to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1876.

Jewels from Jane, May 27

Bloomington the 27th of May, 1864

Dear Mother St. John [Facemaz]

I have seen Bishop Duggan last week.

He is very willing that the property (that half that I pointed out to you) with the building be deeded to you, and that you assume one half of the amount of the loan be secured for the erection of the building. The amount of that loan is three thousand five hundred (3500) the amount you are required to accept will be seventeen hundred and fifty (1750)
The whole of this amount is secured by mortgage on the property.

The Bishop requests me to say to you that he will be home until the tenth of next July and that he will very cheerfully come to receive the Sisters at Bloomington any time they can come up to that time and in case you cannot come before that time that Dr. Dunning ... will come to receive you and that he will visit Bloomington in September

Hoping that this arrangement will be agreeable to you, and wishing to see you soon in this city, am requesting the privilege of recommending myself to a participation of the prayers of yourself and community

I remain very respectfully in Christ

[Father] T. Kennedy

St. Joseph Academy, an elementary Parochial academy, opened in Bloomington, IL in 1864 in Holy Trinity Parish and was transferred to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1876.