This Sunday, July 26 is the anniversary of the arrival of Felix de Andreis, C.M., Joseph Rosati, C.M., and companions in the United States in 1816. They sailed to Baltimore, MD, primarily to establish a seminary in the Louisiana territory. Along the way, working with local communities including trappers, Native Americans, and African Americans, they evangelized and opened seminaries and schools, which laid the groundwork for the Vincentian presence in the U.S.A.

Arrangements were made to sail on an American brig called The Ranger, which weighed anchor at midnight on 12/13 June 1816. On board were thirteen missionaries: De Andreis, Rosati, Acquaroni, Carreo, Ferrari, Deys, Dahmen, Gonzalez, Tichitoli, Blanka, Flegifont, Boranvaski, and de Lattre. Before boarding the ship, they made one last break with their pasts: they laid aside their cassocks and donned the black suits, ties, and round hats that were characteristic of the American clergy.

Source: The American Vincentians: A Popular History of the Congregation of the Mission in the United States 1815-1987 by John Rybolt, C.M.