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| Sister Anita Ferrari's First Communion -- circa 1919. |
by Sr. Anita Ferrari, F.M.A.
One hundred years ago, in 1897, the Salesian Fathers and Brothers of St. John Bosco arrived in San Francisco to take over the Italian Church in North Beach, San Francisco, California.
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| Sister Anita Ferrari's First Communion -- circa 1919. |
It was also one hundred years ago that Domenico Ferrari and Cesira Rolandelli, natives of Parma and Genoa, Italy, also migrated West--the first to seek his fortune and the second at the request of her mother as well as her Aunt, Angela Canepa of Petaluma. Eventually, Domenico & Cesira met and were married in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, in 1901. Domenico was a miner in Sutter Creek. She was a housewife.
After the great earthquake and fire in San Francisco in 1906, Domenico, at the request of Dr. C. Bricca, Sr., came to the City to help clean-up the rubble on his property. When the job was completed, Domenico decided to remain in San Francisco and called his family to reside on the Telegraph Hill at Vallejo & Kearny Sts. Although they lived just one block from St. Francis of Assisi Parish, commonly called "the American Church," they chose to walk to Filbert & Dupont [later Grant Avenue] to the Italian Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. I was born on July 19, 1908 and baptized by Fr. Joseph Simeoni, S.D.B. At that time many parishes were known by their ethnicity--thus: American Church, Italian Church, Spanish Church, French Church, German Church, etc.
I, was soon followed by my sister Norma, and when we were of age we started our first schooling at Jean Parker Grammar School, which we loved. After graduation we enrolled at Galileo High School in the barracks at Civic Center until the new Galileo on Van Ness and Bay was completed. At the age of ten we were enrolled at the Free Italian After School classes in Fugazi Hall, for the three year course. I received the Silver medal upon Graduation. Around 1919, we were enrolled in the catechetical class held at the church on Dupont Street during week days and sewing class on Saturdays with the Holy Family Sisters. At the time of our First Holy Communion, the class was so large that it was necessary to split the groups--boys on one Sunday and girls on another. However, the Sacrament was administered in the crypt of the new church on Filbert Street between Stockton & Powell Streets. In fact all the great devotions with processions, novenas, and Holy Week were always held in the crypt of the yet-to-be-built present structure.
It was 1924 that the new church was completed (this was the "Flapper Period,") that I participated and became active in the sodalities, clubs like the Children of Mary, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament. I graduated Sunday School, and went on to post graduate Sunday School to became a Sunday School teacher with the Holy Family Sisters. I joined the St. Cecilia Choir organized by, Fr. Battezzati, S.D.B.-- "Fr. Bat," as we called him. The choir sang on several occasions at the Scottish Rite Auditorium especially for the feast of St. John Bosco After benediction and choir practice, I helped Fr. Battezzati with the school, correcting papers, making report cards, translating Italian dramas into English. No wonder, my dad used to say, "Why don't you bring your bed to Church." I guess I was cut to be a Salesian!
In High School I became very active in sports, especially volleyball, and was a member of the First Girls' Drill team, and a Principal's Secretary which merited special commendations at graduation.
In 1926, when my oldest sister, Carrie was running for Queen of Columbus Day, we were all involved in selling tickets. It was the custom in those days that the one who sold the most tickets and thus bringing in the most cash became Queen. We all pitched in and she won.
My grandmother, Carlotta Lavagnino, was the cook for the Salesian Fathers. That also encouraged us to stop in church to help Bro. Patrick Peugnet, S.D.B., who was boy scout master, and was always very friendly. He taught some of us girls how to bake and cut the Communion wafers. We would also help Bro. Nick Imielinski, S.D.B. to clean candlelabras or water the flowers.
The Salesian Fathers were often invited to have dinner with my dad. Fr. Matthew Cravero, S.D.B. succeeded in getting dad to join the Knights of Columbus. On one particular evening, the Feast of St. Dominic, when I entered the dining room, jubilant for having sold a good number of tickets. Father Simeoni said to mom and dad: "Questa sarà una Figlia Maria Ausiliatrice." ["This one will be a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sister.")] I did not know who the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians were. Naturally, I inquired with the Holy Family Sisters but not even they knew.
One evening, after choir practice with Fr. Pellegrino, who replaced Fr. Bat, as we were on our way home, a group of us girls stopped to see two sisters in church. They were not Holy Family Sisters, since they had to be in their convent by 6:00 p.m. and this was 9:00 p.m. To satisfy our curiosity, we learned they were Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from Watsonville, California waiting to be taken to the Southern Pacific Depot. They were returning to New York and Fr. Pellegrino introduced us. "They are Salesian Sisters, who do for girls, what we Fathers do for boys. Who would like to join them?"--Dead silence! Then someone blurted: "Anita!" My response was: "Who, Me? Do you think I'm crazy?" "You are all welcome to join us," added the Sisters, who were very pleasant during the short meeting. Thus ended our first meeting with Salesian Sisters and we finally learned who they were. Later, I pondered. Could this be a signal?
Really? Do they do for girls what the Salesian Fathers do for boys? We are familiar with what the Fathers do for the boys. They provide everything a boy could want, besides school. They have sports, drama, music, the Boys Club. The yard was all theirs. The Hall with handball courts, a basketball court, rallies, you name it and they have it. Since most of us girls were public school products, we were familiar with all these sports, but only during school hours. Yes, we did belong to teams, but only intramural and even these, during those days after school, were restricted.
Because we were reprimanded many times for talking, laughing or giggling while in the choir loft, we sat on the steps by the school office until we were called. It was on one of those evenings that that Bro. Felix Penna, S.D.B., a teacher, who later became the Provincial of the Salesian Eastern New Rochelle Province was on the floor below and overheard our conversation, which was pure gossip, took us by surprise. "I thought you were young ladies," he said, " but I see you are just "Cummare" (plain gossips). We were not angels, but it sure cured us or at least kept us on our guard. That was a good lesson we learned and never forgot.
I recall there was much excitement in our Parish during the
last years of the 20's: I first spoke about my vocation with Fr.
Oreste Trinchieri, S.D.B.. He was to become the first Provincial
of the San Francisco Province in 1927; several of my close friend
entered the Convent of the Holy Family Sisters; the Church was
subject to terrorist bombings; Missionary Bishop Versiglia from
Shiu Chow, China, visited our Parish before leaving for Rome.
Since he was a Salesian, we girls were curious to know about
China. We would interrupt him while he paced up and down the
small court yard praying to kiss his ring ("and be sure to
kneel on your left knee" we were cautioned) as was the
custom. We were reminded of this two years later when we learned
he was killed by assassins. He was a saint and martyr. We cried
and prayed when we were told. We had the pleasure of meeting Fr.
Richard Pittini, the Salesian Provincial of the New Rochelle, NY
Province, who was later consecrated Archbishop of Santo Domingo.
Several of our boys, David Zunino, Caesar Montali, 
Raymond Bowler, entered the Salesian
Seminary in Richmond. Mexico was undergoing a persecution and the
Archbishop of Puebla, Mexico, was a refugee in our Parish. The
first graduation class of Salesian High School took place. My
brother, William, was among them. The big events were: The Parish
Picnic at Fairfax; the Parish Banquet for our Pastor, Fr. Raphael
Piperni's, 60 years of priesthood. My High School days were also
coming to a close. I had to make a decision: "to New
Jersey???" That was like going to China, I was told.
"But I'd like to be a missionary and go to China."
How did my "YES" come about?
Dad had a cyst/tumor on his arm. After his visit to the Doctor he was told he had to have surgery. When I heard 'surgery' my heart cringed. My devotion to Mary Help of Christians prompted me to ask our Blessed Mother to help Dad. Kneeling before her altar, "Please," I begged, "just give me a sign if I should go or not. Help me make a decision." The day Dad went to his appointment the Cyst was gone! Imagine his surprise! When he came home and told the family we all rejoiced. I kept my secret before Mary's altar. I said my "Thank You." and wrote my letter of application to the convent and gave it to Fr. Trinchieri on the 24th of May! On that day in 1930 I said my "YES" and I left my heart in San Francisco
| Sister Anita in the late 1930's. |  |
How did I break the news ? First, I had to answer a letter from Mother Provincial that Fr. Trinchieri gave me. Second, I had to tell my Mom. I didn't tell Dad. Mom told him. Third, I had a beautiful promising position in a U. S Bond Insurance Company, Rathbone, King & Seeley. Naturally, I had to give them notice and break in another girl at my desk. They were very sorry, but kind and understanding, and I worked until the end of July and was given a farewell and a bonus by the President on the last day. Lastly, my friendly and famous group, the Choir Girls threw a swim party at Crystal Palace, a public pool in North Beach followed by a party at the home of dear Lillian and Catherine Canepa. Knowing that Sisters did not swim, it was my last swim and I did make the sacrifice, even though now it is no longer on the "no-no" list for sisters in convents.
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Sr. Anita at her last active post -- librarian of SS. Peter and Paul School, San Francisco. |
My parents? Mom and Dad felt it very much but put no oppositions or objections. It was my decision. However, the family gave me three months. After three years, I solemnly pronounced my temporary vows and after six years my perpetual vows. Every quest I make of God is a message telling me of my neediness, of my faith, my trust in Him. Prayer is the one moment in life where we need not fear. God already knows. He is everywhere and I thank Him for the gifts He has lavished on me, for the Salvation of youth and allowing Him to unfold His plan for my life.
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