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oastmg of the praise he had received from EngUsh speakers, revealed his distancing
from viUage influence.
Along wdth this 'moral decline' came for many ItaUan speakers neglect of their
religious duties. While family affection, awareness of mutual sufferings and a Christian
faith contmued to link the immigrants wdth their homelands, these things also lost
intensity as tune progressed. At first most emigrants had dravm upon their beliefs
during the frightening months of the joumey, placing themselves in God's hands, —
'Ora che Iddio ci ha messi al nostro destino' — and thanking him for a safe arrival ~
'grazie a Dio ora siamo rinfrancati in salute e disposti, sperando meglio per
Vawenire'.'^^ Upon their arrival in Melboume, they had also been reassured in their
faith, seeing large numbers of Catholic priests and extensive church building programs:
Qui in Australia ha religione pretestante ma i cattelici sene i piii
numeresi, chiese dappertutte e di legne e di sasso e una buona
perziene di preti ed un vescevo dimorante e residente a Melbourne
con gli altri preti.'*'
It was very different on the goldfields, however, where the Italian speakers found few,
if any, priests able to serve their needs, and little opportunity to attend a church
service. Those determined to practise their faith had to go to Melboume, spending time
and money which few could afford. As Alessandro Pozzi stated:
Nen se chi verrebbe andare sine a Melbourne per confessarsi e
perdere un 15 giorni, e spendere 15 o 18 lire, non e come a casa
nostra che pagane niente per confessarsi, ma qui devono pagare
una lira al cenfessere e ad un ueme bisognoso gli pensa sopra un
peco prima di spendere tanto denare che faticosamente guadagna
se la sua famiglia che ne ha bisegne.*"
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