IV New York, August 4, 1884

Excerpt of a Letter of Msgr. Michael Corrigan, Archbishop of New York

M.R. Sir,

I have the honor now to acknowledge the letter (without number and date) of Your Eminence regarding Mr. Vincenzo Galatola. It came three days ago, and I thank you very much. Everything that Mr. Galatola intended to do with an annual salary, a good Pallottine i.e., of the Pious Society of the Missions, does now and does better. To tell the truth, there is not much to do, considering that ships come from Italy only twice a month, at the most. Besides, the work of many migrants is already mortgaged to the padrones, who import them paying the expenses of the journey. In this way the migrants become almost their slaves, until they have paid the last penny. The migrants land at Castle Garden, as it is called, which is the government port. There Mr. Galatola cannot enter, but a priest can very easily, and thus he can truly be more useful than any other lay agent. Besides, Galatola does not know English well, does not know the city, and would not have our trust or that of the immigrants as this pious priest. Up to now there does not exist here any Italian Catholic committee. Mr. Galatola did not know anything about the committee in Naples. If it exists, it would be very desirable that there should be some relationship with the above-mentioned priest.

            The religious condition of the Italians in these areas is always very sad. There are about 50,000 Italians. Only two or three percent go to church. So far they don’t show any esteem for priests of their own nationality. There are twenty-four American priests in the city who speak Italian, and hear confessions very willingly, but the poor people do not frequent the sacraments. Some of the children, but a small fraction, go to our schools. If Your Eminence would like more extensive news regarding this Italian question, I could tell you many other things.

            In the meantime, kissing your hand, while I renew my due deference. I remain a very devoted servant of Your M.R. Eminence.

Michael Augustine Corrigan