TO THE EDITOR:
In the October 3, 2025 edition of the RI Catholic titled “A Prayer for Walter” Bishop Bruce is so right in this matter stating:
“Our immigrant brothers and sisters, representing so many cultures and languages and traditions, have enriched life in America for centuries.”
Mother Cabrini and her Sisters came here to help the Italian immigrant community as did the Scalabrinian Fathers (Congregation of the Missionaries St. Charles Borromeo) who both came to help the Italian immigrants. Many churches in Providence and Johnston were run by the Scalabrini Order including Holy Cross Church, St. Bartholomew, St. Rocco’s and others.
Orphanages, hospitals, schools, and churches were established to help the new Italian immigrants assimilate into this country. Many of the Italian adults and children were living in the streets.
Now, sadly, people are looked upon as “evil” merely because they don’t speak the language. It is so sad!
It saddened me when I read on Facebook that when the devout Spanish speaking community was moving into St. Ann Church, Providence (from St. Edward), comments which were deeply hurtful — “Build the Wall.” So sad.
These people are devout Catholics who live in the neighborhood which is no longer the Italian neighborhood of my youth.
Father Nolasco is doing an outstanding job bringing the groups together. (Bishop Bruce did an outstanding job presiding at the Feast Day Bilingual Mass on July 26, whereby he addressed the needs of both communities.)
In the past, so many groups were discriminated against; however, I ask “why do groups of people who were discriminated against and finally make it, including all cultures, then discriminate against the next group rather than trying to help them?” That bewilders me.
Great article Your Excellency! Keep standing up for the less fortunate. You definitely are following the “call” you received to be a true witness to the Faith!
E-mail letters to: letters@thericatholic.com. Or send to: Rhode Island Catholic, Letters to the Editor, One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903.
