The Irish-American Right Reverend Michael Joseph Lavelle was born south of Pompei on Broome Street in 1856, and became a priest in 1879. He was the rector of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and served as a liaison between the archdiocesan administration and its non-English-speaking Catholic congregations; hence he was invited to represent the archdiocese at Pompei’s memorial Mass. He sent his regrets, promising to “say Mass for the poor victims, and keep them in constant remembrance.”

Courtesy of : Ctr for Migration Studies, Coll. #037, Box 1, Folder 12. All rights reserved.

Tags: Funeral, Italian