Founded by a soon-to-be canonised bishop, the Scalabrinian missionary society is celebrating a major milestone serving those who crossed the world to build a new life in Australia, reports The Catholic Weekly.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth had just succeeded George VI on the throne; Pius XII was Pope, Sir Robert Menzies was Prime Minister and the Scalabrinians arrived in Australia.
Seventy years later, members of the order have made their way back to Italy this month to witness their founder John Baptist Scalabrini canonised by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square.
Fr Nacho Gutiérrez CS reading about the life of John Scalabrini in his Sydney library. Photo: Alphonsus Fok/Catholic Weekly.
In what has been called “The Scalabrini Year” in Australia, the milestones are being hailed as official recognition for the man who spoke for the voiceless and became the inspiration for the pontiff’s annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Often described as “relatively unknown”, Scalabrini’s sainthood is of global significance to millions around the world, including the order’s 650 religious, many of whom witnessed his veneration as a saint.
He founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St Charles Borromeo, ministering to migrants, refugees, seafarers and displaced persons.
Provincial of the St Frances Xavier Cabrini province which includes Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, Fr Nacho Gutiérrez cs, said it was a huge honour to be leading the order at the time of the canonisation.
“We have been calling it ‘The Scalabrini Year’ as we are celebrating 70 years in Australia, 25 years since our founder became Blessed and this week becoming a saint,” he beamed.
“We may be small in numbers, but we are huge in heart and we are so very, very proud of this recognition of his vision and mission.
“I fell in love with the charism and I am so happy I am able to be at this incredible moment in history.”
Arriving on our shores in the early 1950s, the Scalabrinians’ presence reflected the emerging Italian community and migration in Australia.
The mostly newly-ordained men in their early 20s requested to be sent to Australia for their first mission following the establishment of flourishing communities in both the United States and Canada.
Little did they realise that despite being an order of missionaries, most would spend the majority of their priestly lives in their new-found home, well and truly confirming it was all about the “charism and not the tourism” of the order.
Sailing by ship for more than 40 days, the young clergy travelled to the cane fields in Cairns and the steel works in Unanderra, the two main locations where the Italian migrants gathered.
Although it didn’t take long before their communities flourished and spread to urban areas, particularly Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Wollongong.
Along the way, they introduced nursing homes and hostels which today offer faith-based care, especially to migrant communities who want to maintain a close relationship to their heritage and traditions.
“Today our nursing homes are part of our continuing care for not only Italians but all members of the community,” Fr Nacho said.
“Although quite often they are what we are known for, but we do so much else.
“Our founder was known as the Father to the Wanderer and today we continue our missionary work where it’s most needed.
“Today, internationally there are tens of millions of migrants and refugees which remains a key global concern for us.”
This is an abridged form of an article by Debbie Cramsie published in The Catholic Weekly.