Scalabrinians

The Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo (Latin: Congregatio Missionariorum a S. Carolo), commonly called the Scalabrinian Missionaries, is a Catholic religious institute of brothers and priests founded by Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza in Italy, in 1887.

Its primary aim was to maintain the practice of the Catholic faith among Italian emigrants in the New World, and "to ensure as far as possible their moral, civil, and economic welfare."

It was to provide priests for the emigrants, as well as committees of persons who would give good advice and practical direction needed by poor Italians who were new arrivals in foreign ports; to establish churches, schools, and missionary homes in the various Italian colonies in North and South America; and to train youths for the priesthood.

On this occasion, Cesare Cantú, the famous Italian historian, addressed to the Bishop of Piacenza some memorable words of congratulation, asking leave to add to the bishop's blessing on the departing missionaries, "the prayers of an old man who admires a courage and an abnegation so full of humility."

A welcome had already been assured these first missionaries of the congregation by a commendatory letter (1 June 1888) of Leo XIII addressed to the American bishops.

Immediately after their arrival in New York City, the missionaries secured a favourable site in Centre Street, where there was a colony of Italians, and in a short time a chapel was opened; soon after this, the Church of the Resurrection was opened on Mulberry Street; lastly, a building on Roosevelt Street, which had been a Protestant place of worship, became the property of the Scalabrini Fathers, who transformed it into the Church of St. Joachim, the first national parish for Italian immigrants in the Archdiocese of New York.

During his term, in 1992, the first four Filipino Priests were ordained: on June 1, Florentino Galdo, Mario Lorenzana, Fidel Magno, and on August 2, Romeo Velos"