Recollections of My Life and Reflections on Times and Events During It: A Memoir by Father W. J. Howlett Main Menu Introduction Table of Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Other Writings by Father W. J. Howlett Timeline Howlett Family Tree William J. Howlett Family Tree Maps and Geography: Howlett's First Trip West Fr. Howlett moved with his family to Denver when he was a child, and then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, KY several years later. This map recounts the path he took to get to both places. Maps and Geography: Howlett's European travels Fr. Howlett traveled far and wide during his trip to Europe. Here is a map of the places he recorded visiting. Maps and Geography: Howlett in Paris, 1872-1873 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while in Paris, France. Maps and Geography: Howlett in London, 1874 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while vacationing in London, England Maps and Geography: Colorado Missions with Terrain Fr. Howlett's Colorado mission locations, with Colorado terrain. Index Acknowledgements Contributors' Biographies HIST 394 at CUA, Spring 2020

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lessons, but I must say that the catechism seemed to be the most difficult lesson I ever tried to learn. We had Butler’s Catechism, and everyone knows that needed simplification. There were three of our family in the class, of which I was the youngest, and some of the older ones wanted to hold me back as being too young. I maintained that ten years was not too young when I knew my catechism as well as the others. Under the circumstances Father DeNeve admitted me and I went with the class for instruction every day for a time and for the few days set aside for a short retreat. The day for First Communion was set for a Friday, for Bishop Lefebvre was to give Confirmation on the following Sunday, and Father wanted to have the children’s communion out of the way of the big class for Confirmation.

          The morning of the First Communion was a busy one for priests and people. I think there were three priests hearing confessions and they were kept busy until mass time. Of course, the people were busy too, for the mothers must spend a little more time on this day on the children’s wardrobe than usual. The consequence for us was that when we had come our six miles the mass was about to begin and there was not time for confession. The rest was that we were not able to make our First Communion with the others. The ceremony was long and it was late when all was over. When the priests went to dinner and returned only after their Sunday recreation, it was near three o’clock before we could go to confession, and it was then that Father DeNeve learned that my brother and I had not gone to communion, and thus it was that we were able to keep in the class for Confirmation. I think this was October 27, 1847, and the following Sunday we were confirmed, and it seemed to me that almost all the congregation was confirmed at the same time. Old grey-haired men were there; but it was explained that many of them had not the opportunity of being confirmed in Ireland in their younger days. 

          After our confirmation we were kept on in our catechism lessons. Mr. John Dwan was engaged to open a little school in the sacristy of the church and he was our teacher of catechism. His manner for the more advanced was to call two pupils, one of whom was to ask the other the first question of the lesson. This answered, the next question was put back to the first pupil and thus they asked and answered to the end of the chapter.

          In those days I had not much thought of becoming a priest. My mother entertained the idea in a vague way and sometimes spoke to the priests of it. As for myself, I would look at the priest at the altar and think how nice it was to be a priest, for no priest could ever commit a sin. Of course they did not have to go to confession. That was the bugbear.

          My father never said much about it, but I imagine it was because he did not see his way towards paying the expense of such an undertaking. The farm was producing no more than necessary to feed and clothe so many, and as the older ones grew up they went to do for themselves and the younger members had to take their places in the work. To ask for assistance was beyond thought. He might be poor,

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