Fr. Nicholas Russo, S.J. (1845-1902)

We rented an old bar-room in the Lower East-Side, turned ourselves into carpenters, cleaners, and decorators, made an altar and two confessionals, cleaned the walls, painted the inside doors, etc. -- in a word gave the appearance of a chapel and put up a big sign on the outside, "Missione Italiana della Madonna di Loreto."

Link (here) to the brilliant article by Pat McNamara at Pathos.