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It was this new, brash and assertive faith which was brought to Australia, and it
alienated many of its Italian-speaking congregation ~ aUhough a traditional scepticism
of the Church clergy (cf above p. 147) and political views which conflicted with a
Catholic faith were also significant. Apart from a brief period during the 1870s when
Frs Ottavio Barsanti and Nicholas Bassetto arrived on the goldfields from Italy (cf
above p. 142), the Italian speakers were mostly denied the comfort of a tmly
empathetic clergy. Despite several inevitable scenes of conflict (see Morganti and
Tomasetti sections), most Italian speakers tolerated the different ways of the Irish
clergy and incorporated their own traditions into the expression of their faith.
Celebrations associated WiXh La Festa della Madonna (feast of the Assumption) or, as
it was also known among the immigrants, Mezzagosto (mid August), still brought the
ethnic community together at various times of the year and many families retained
effigies to the saints to watch over their produce. Several Italian speakers assisted as
stonemasons on church building sites ~ notably St Joseph's at Blampied ~ and, as they
grew more financially secure, donated land for a church's erection. In the little church
of St Bemard at Hepbum, a statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart perpetuates the
memory of the RoUeri family who were once its loyal parishioners.
Gathering to talk at the end of the weekly Mass and to celebrate saints'
feast-days, baptisms, weddings and other ritual occasions, much of the social life of the
Italian speakers focused around the Church. Other occasions for socialising, such as
the 'pot nights' referred to earlier, related to the immigrants' working calendar. At
weekends, games and other sports would be enjoyed, most families owning a bocce
(Italian bowls) lawn which attracted friends on Sunday aftemoons. Though card
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