The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
ITALIANS ANDTHEIRoHURoHEs
Their Generosity Defended by Roman
Catholic Priest OF Their Race.

To THE EpIrOR or rHK SUS-Sir. In last
Fridays SrN letter by Ar. William II.
O'Dowd on Peters Pence and Home Charl-
ties makes uncalled for. unjust and uutrutn-
IN assertions relating to alleged uucharita.
BILE and negleCtful conduct by the Italsa
people in this country coward their churche,
| MIR. Dowd says that the English speaking
, people have paid. are paying and must pay
for churches for Italians here.
Take ST. Anthony 5 Church and Slonaster-
In sullivan street. be says. now used by "a
talians and having none but Italian priests
4 here "a not brick or a stone or a nail i
those edinCes tat was not paid for BY ths
English spea Sing people / do not dsE--
that the English speaking people Il do not
classify native Italians. for the sake Of the
argument IN this category have been hesv-
and generous contributors toNard tie Cath
oho churches. but tlis fact alone does not
prove that tie Italians have not been eluAllv
generous aud chaiitable The English
speaking people are noted for Swing suon-
taneous offerings and donations, but Vhie
tie Italians are not spontaneous contributors.
| they give freely and often TO their churches
| these foreigners have not acquired the usags
OF supporting churches accopding 10 the
called system of tie EnrlisN speakirg con
gregaticn, who have their own way Of miin-
itauii's No come from abroad are TN.
bued VITA the idea that churches N America
are supported. as they are maintained II
Italy. from patrimouy resources bur 10
Italy the Italians have made numerous dons-
tons ~ their churches in forms other than
IT. money. but OF great value as history tells
US These same ftaliaus who come 70 thess
Blores, or their descendants, are taught bv
their priests here that churches cannot erst
without steady contributions Of money Ihu
they learn soon 10 do and. at the same tina
they continue 10 make donations OF value
other than money--as Candies !ewels, &c lin
| accordance with tf"f ancient customs, thus
giving TIE churc e. an opportunity 70 aug
With constant effort on the part Of tn.
italian priests, the Italians here have been
taught to build and support their churches
v ANN "A ..#H.a
] am the rector, the Church OF The Most
Precious Blood. In Baxter street Duruy
ten years services we're held IN a roofed-ovsr
basement but with honest effort and toll
tho Italians belonging 70 this Parish, promr ed
by a true spirit Of charity and obllsstlc1
toward the buTch Of their faith. raised fund
large enough 70 enable them to construct this
which they. by their exclusive o1ering. hsv.
maintained and are now supporting
In the case Of ST. Anthony's Church, ~
which Mr. o 'Dowd speaks | have Fnowledss
marriages, bapusms and funeral services
only. held at that c7urch. agrreEate over
5000 which has been certainly used r
the fathers in charge, either in paving for tb-
port Of the church and It's priests. After
church has been built II should be supported
English speaking people and Italians alike
have done much in 9th directions
Efforts Of either: brt on the contrary would
praise the generosity and labors Of both y
should he the aim Of all Catholic people, II
whatever race. to oooperate With true fra
ternal and brcth erlv love for the glory AMI
success OF Catholicism.
REV. BERNADTvo PkTIzzo. O s NJ
Rector, Of t,e Italian Church OF the Most
Precious Blood.
NEW YORK Jan. TO- 81.