45. Corrigan to Scalabrini¹⁰⁵

         New York, October 5, 1893

Most Reverend Excellency:

Today Father Bandini sent me the financial report of the St. Raphael’s Home for the last six months, as follows:

            The report is in American dollars and the dollar is valued at five lire.

            From this report, it is evident that Father Bandini’s income is insufficient to live on and to pay the debts which amount to over twenty

thousand dollars. There is also a Iou note for twenty thousand lire on which I personally paid six hundred and twenty five lire interest in July and this is not included in the above financial report. The annual interest amounts to one thousand two hundred and fifty lire.

            The Church of the Most Precious Blood was sold this week for sixty thousand dollars. The mortgage alone amounts to seventy two thousand five hundred dollars, and there are other large debts.

            My plan is to build another Church when I can. For the moment, nothing can be done. The Missionaries will have to be satisfied with the Church of St. Joachim.

            I do not know how to dismiss Father Morelli. He pretends many things which I cannot agree to. I think that I must soon revoke his faculties of the Diocese.

            I regret having to write about these matters, but Your Excellency knows how full of difficulties is the life of a Bishop.

            The Bishop of Brooklyn is doing very well and send you his regards.

            I am, Venerable Monsignor,

Your humble and devoted servant,

Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York