MIVA

Decade ago a strapping young German Catholic priest, who had entered the order of Oblates of Mary Immaculate after serving as a War pilot, found himself stationed for home missionary work near Berlin's Tempelhof airport. To obtain a civilian pilot's license tall, blond Rev. Paul Schulte flew surreptitiously until his ecclesiastical superiors discovered it, grounded him. To this disappointment was added deeper sorrow when Father Schulte learned of the fate which had overtaken a fellow Oblate, Rev. Otto Fuhrmann with whom he had been inseparable in the flying corps, in whose company he had entered the priesthood. Father Fuhrmann had died of a tropical disease in Ovamboland, South-West Africa after vainly at tempting to reach a hospital by caravan through the jungle. At once Father Schulte volunteered to take his comrade's place. Privately he decided Father Fuhrmann's life could have been saved had an airplane been available to transport him over, instead of through the jungle. Father Schulte resolved to do something about it.

After many a fruitless interview with churchmen who were reluctant to allow him even to fly a plane of his own in Africa, Father Schulte received the blessings of his namesake (but no kinsman), Joseph Cardinal Schulte, Archbishop of Cologne. Soon after, in 1927, Father Schulte raised some money, founded the Missionalium Vehiculorum Associatio or Missions-Verkchrs-Arbeitsgemeinschajt ("Missionary Communications Association"). Calling it MIVA for short, Father Schulte chose as its motto: Obmam Christo terra marique et in aera ("Toward Christ on land and sea and in the air"). In 1929 he made his first journey to the U. S. to raise more money. Finally the Pope himself gave unqualified approval.

By this spring, when Father Schulte traveled to the U. S. on the Hindenburg and thereupon with papal permission celebrated the world's first aerial Mass (TIME. May 18), MIVA had acquired a dozen planes, more than 150 automobiles and motorboats which now ply among mission stations in Albania, Lettland, East, West and South Africa, Madagascar, Korea, New Guinea, Brazil and the Solomon Islands. Last week Father Schulte was in Manhattan, full of plans for adding northern Canada to MIVA's territory. During the summer, accompanied by Toronto Pilot Pat Howard, he flew an all-metal Junkers named Santa Maria to the mouth of the Mackenzie River, presented it to Most Rev. Gabriel Breynat, O. M. I., vicar general of that vast area. In December, when the Mackenzie freezes solid, Father Schulte will again fly north, leave at least one plane equipped with wheels, floats and skis. In the north heretofore Catholic missionaries--most of them Oblates--have spent winter after winter isolated from news, medical attention, supplies. Whether or not it brings any new Eskimo or Indian converts to Mother Church, MIVA will henceforth make things easier for her icebound sons.

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