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It
was during the Paschal season of 1908 when several Italians came
to me to Confession that I noticed that they had not sufficient
knowledge of their Catechism, and I there and then made up my mind
to instruct them. Among those whom I taught, I found a certain young
man, seventeen years of age, named Domenico Nasso.
One
day while giving my instructions, he interrupted me, and said, “Father,
if I bring fifteen men here Easter Sunday, will you preach to us?”
“Most
willingly,” said I, “but I must ask the permission of
my Superior.” I submitted the proposition to Rev. Father Sebastien,
at that time Superior of the Monastery of Ottawa, and he advised
me to refer the matter to the Archbishop.
I did,
and the result was the founding of the Mission, for the late Monseigneur
Duhamel, who was then Archbishop said, “I have been thinking
of this for some time, and now that you ask me, I give you permission
not only to preach to them, but to baptize them and to marry them.
May our Divine Lord bless your Ministery.”
Shortly
afterwards, I visited all the families and on Easter Evening 150
Italians assisted at the ceremonies.
That
happy day of April 19th, 1903, was indeed a day of Resurrection
for the Italian population of Ottawa. These good people rose from
death to life; they left the tomb of indifference for a life of
religious practice.
On
the same occasion the Scapulars of Our Lady of Mount Carmel were
distributed to all who associated at the ceremonies and the Mission,
being placed under the powerful protection of the Blessed Mother,
was assured immunity from harm and was destined to become a citadel
in which all virtues would be practised.
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