BRIEF STORY OF THE SSP IN USA
The
foundation of the Society of St. Paul in the United States had
its very humble beginnings in the Archdiocese of New York.
The founder was Fr. Francis Xavier Borrano, who
arrived in New York from Italy on October 1931. He had no fixed
destination in the city of New York, had no money, and could not
speak English. Consequently, as the immigration law required, he
was quarantined at Ellis Island.
Released from Ellis Island, Fr.
Borrano was received by the Jesuits at Nativity Church on Second
Ave. in Manhattan. During this time he petitioned the
establishment of the Pauline Community in New York. After
several months temporary permission was granted and Fr. Borrano
moved in March of 1932 to an apartment in Brooklyn, New York.
With the arrival of the members, Bro. Raphael, Fr. Stanislaus
and Sub-Deacon Mario Gandolfi, the community began to expand and
it was necessary to find larger quarters in the Bronx
- first in Zerega Avenue,
then in Tremont Avenue and
then another move to Research Avenue.
In 1937 the community made its final move to a six acre plot of
land in Staten Island, New York which today
is the present residence of the Society of St. Paul.
This is the main publishing house for ST PAULS/Alba House
books.
On May 9, 1944 the Paulines took possession of property in
Canfield, Ohio where the Novitiate was begun. Two new printing
presses were bought and the publication
of "The Catholic Home Messenger" began.
Today, it is the home of Audio Visual tape and CD productions.
In 1954 another foundation was
made in the Archdiocese of Detroit. At first the community lived
in a small private house and then moved to a larger building in
Dearborn, Michigan,
where it published a weekly newspaper,
distributed films and operated a media center.
Currently, the community has a bookstore and visits
parishes on weekends for book displays in order to bring the
Word of God directly to the people.
The future of our communications
apostolate in America lies on the ingenuity and creativeness of
the members perpetually assisted by the
powerful aid of the Holy Spirit, and under the protection of the
Queen of Apostles and of St. Paul.
Photos of Fr Borrano in the early years >>>
Seated from left: Francesco
Saverio Borrano, Giovanni Costa, don Giacomo Alberione, don
Timoteo Giaccardo,
don Giuseppe Trosso