He had been one of the administrators of the Extension Society, a home missionary support organization which still exists for the purpose of assisting bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and laity in the building up of the Church in the poorer areas of the country. After he was appointed the second Bishop of Corpus Christi,he continued to build churches and chapels throughout the large territory of what was the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Through his contacts in the Midwest, he brought numerous priests to the Diocese to minister in the many new parishes that he established. During his administration, the present Cathedral was constructed, along with what is now the Chancery Office. Originally, it served as his residence and that of the Cathedral priests. During his administration he invited the Benedictine Monks of Subiaco, Arkansas to establish a community in the Diocese and to begin an Academy for boys on land on Up River Road which had been donated by the Dunn family for Catholic education.