Marquette League
MARQUETTE LEAGUE
A mission society founded in New York City, May 1904, by Henry George Ganss, then chaplain (1890–1910) of the U.S. government Indian School at Carlisle, Pa. At the time of organization, it was decided that the league should be directed by a board of 25 members chosen from the councils of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In the early 1960s, however, membership in a St. Vincent de Paul Society was no longer a requisite for membership in the board of directors, who were chosen from the general ranks of Catholic laity in the New York City and Brooklyn area. The purposes of the Marquette League were: to convert the indigenous people of the U.S. and to help preserve the faith among Catholic natives; to contribute to the support of native missions, mission schools, and chapels; to maintain trained catechists; and to improve the spiritual and physical condition of the Native American communities.
[m. mcdonnell/eds.]