10. Tierney to Scalabrini¹³

         Hartford, March 28, 1905

My Dear Bishop:

I thank you very much for your kind letter and the real interest you take in our students.

            Regarding Mr. Nolan, should his health continue to be poor I would be very happy to have him ordained; yet if he has not completed his

course of theology he would be of little use to us. Better if he came before ordination. The other students we would like home as soon as they have completed their studies. If this can be done in less than a four year course, I would be pleased.

            Last Sunday, the 26th, I dedicated again the Italian church in Bridgeport. There was not a large congregation. Yet there are some 4,000 or 5,000 in Bridgeport. New Haven is improving some. Fr. Alussi does not desire to remain there. He is too timid and will not effect much good.        They need three priests at St. Michael’s and Fr. Marenchino asks for another at St. Anthony’s. I sincerely hope you will be able to give us two priests for that city. The people of Meriden are again asking for a priest of their nationality. I will be glad to give them one next week. Three have been there in succession and left because the people did not assist them. Now for some two years they have been attended by Fr. McLaughlin who is Assistant at the church of St. Joseph in that city. I hope they will do more for this new priest than they did for the others. The priests who came from Piacenza last year are doing very good work. Indeed, I feel your good seminaries will prove a great benefit to the Hartford Diocese.

            The Holy Father does not know our difficulty in providing for the many nationalities that have recently come to this country.

            I sincerely hope your health is good and that God will bless you most abundantly for all your labors.

Yours sincerely in XT,

M. Tierney, Bishop of Hartford

P.S. Nothing certain yet regarding the Coadjutor of Boston.