By: Hadiyah Ahsan
Maria D’Alessandro, October 25th, 2024
Table of Contents
Introduction
I had the opportunity to interview Maria D’Alessandro, also known as Sister Maria, in her Thorold community on October 25th, 2024. I was connected to Sister Maria through Professor Colella, an Associate Professor and Chair of Italian Studies at Brock University. Sister Maria graciously welcomed Professor Colella and me into her home, known as the ‘Catechistic Sister Of The Sacred Heart Day Care” in Thorold.
Sister Maria was kind enough to share her story on how she left her home and Catechist church in Naples and took her first step into Canada in 2007, dedicating her life to assist in the religious nurturing of the community of Thorold and to provide meaningful values in the hearts of many children.
For the first 17 years of my life, I was born and raised in an area where my surroundings only consisted of predominately multicultural people. In my area, Rexdale, I have never encountered nor spoken to an Italian person. This project has allowed me to interact and understand the sacrifices made by a first-generation Italian-Canadian. Sister Maria has given me a greater outlook on an Italian-Canadian’s story on immigration to Canada and how she has integrated herself, professionally into the Thorold community.
The purpose of my assignment is to create an oral history and collect materials that can contribute to the Italian Canadian Narratives Showcase. The methods used during this interview consisted of interviewing Sister Maria by travelling to her home, filming an interview, and editing in which many long gaps have been removed. The semi-structured interview was set up as having a list of pre-determined questions, however, many follow-up questions were added to the interview. The original and unedited video will be preserved at Brock University’s archives.
Interview: Sister Maria’s Journey, A Video Interview in the Home of Maria D’Alessandro
Transcript of Interview
Analysis
Maria D’Alessandro, also known within the Niagara community as Sister Maria, is a first-generation Italian-Canadian who has offered her history in immigration, adaptation and service. Sister Maria’s journey from Naples to Thorold in 2007 highlighted the sacrifice, faith and culture rooting her mission as a Catechist from the Holy Rosary Church to provide religious nurturing and educational support for the Italian-Canadian community in Thorold. Throughout the interview, it was evident that her personal and professional sacrifice showcased her dedication to the Mother House in Italy and her dedication to fostering a sense of belonging and care for her community. Notably, her interview speaks to the internal struggles with language barriers and cultural differences in daily routines and community interaction. Her experiences speak to the challenges immigrants often face while navigating dual identities when first immigrating to Canada, while also trying to maintain their cultural heritage and adapting to a new environment.
After Sister Maria took her vows dedicating her life and mission to the Holy Rosary Church and Catethcism, there was an opportunity to note that within the Thorold community, their Bishop mentioned that there must be a religious presence to organize a daycare within the area. However, it is important to note that the first three nuns arrived before Sister Maria in Thorold on June 29, 1978. Before the ‘Catechistic Sisters Of The Sacred Heart Day Care’ was available to the public, the ‘Sisters of St. Joseph’ were once present but left the area. The Bishop, then, decided that a Catechist daycare should be created within this area as Sister Angela’s family were living in Port Colborne. Today, the ‘Catechistic Sisters Of The Sacred Heart Day Care’ is the only religious order in the area that serves all communities and is not subjected to only Italians or a specific religious sect. This reminds me of the short chapter discussed in Doctor Russo’s class, “John Cabot Rediscovered” (Sabrina Marandola) as the text mentions bringing Catholicism within Canada, “it’s believed that Carbonariis set up the first religious colony in Newfoundland…” While, the Sisters were not the first to bring Catetcism to Canada, with struggle and sacrifice, they were able to open to first inclusive Catecist daycare in Thorold.
The interview has also provided insight into the generational and geographical shifts of an immigrant’s experience. Unlike Italian-Canadian immigrants who faced severe challenges on the journey to Canada or the industrial work, for example, Cabot’s difficulties finding funding for his expedition, Sister Maria’s difficulties were different than the previous generations (John Cabot’s Rediscovered, Sabrina Marandola). Instead, Sister Maria’s journey consisted of flying alone from Italy directly to Pearson International Airport, where the two nuns were waiting for her, Sister Consolata and Sister Angela to take her to Thorold. Sister Maria felt as if this journey was very nerve-wracking and emotional for her as she was travelling alone. Although Sister Maria was very well-educated, with over 1 degree and 3 diplomas, she felt as if the English were not the same as she learned in Italy. This resulted in Sister Maria having to attend English Language School. This created an extremely busy schedule for Sister Maria as she participated in classes for two years, however, she would work in the daycare during morning hours, and then attend her English classes from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. However, to this day, Sister Maria prefers to speak in Italian. Sister Maria’s emphasis on the daycare’s development over 46 years, Sister Maria mentions that the ‘Catechistic Sisters Of The Sacred Heart Day Care’ was a project that took many sacrifices before becoming a fully functioning and thriving, generational institution. The daycare had started with only three children and has now become a running and at-capacity daycare. During the oral history, a young boy also walks into the room, Professor Colella’s son, who had also gone to the same daycare. Throughout the interview Professor Colella’s son mentions small details and makes comments to her mother and Sister Maria, this created a new ambiance within the room as there was a child who had first-hand experience being within the daycare while sharing information which contributed to the interview.
Reflection
Participating in this experiential learning project as an interviewer has been transformative in several ways. As someone raised in a multicultural neighbourhood with limited exposure to Italian culture, engaging with Sister Maria’s story deepened my appreciation for the diversity of immigrant experiences. Her narrative about arriving in Canada not by personal choice but as part of her religious mission broadened my perspective on the motivations behind migration, which often extend beyond economic or family reasons. Hearing about her initial struggles with language and cultural isolation gave me greater empathy for immigrants who navigate these barriers while contributing meaningfully to their communities as my parents are first-generation generation immigrants. I found myself reflecting on my position in society, particularly the privileges I often take for granted as someone who has grown up speaking English fluently and enjoying a sense of community, specifically not understanding how difficult it is to leave an entire city, country, and family behind.
This project also contributed to my academic and professional development. Conducting an interview required honing my communication and project management skills, from preparing thoughtful questions to adapting in real-time based on Sister Maria’s responses. For example, I initially expected a straightforward narrative about her immigration experience but, found that her deeply personal reflections on sacrifice and community leadership enriched the interview beyond what I anticipated. Editing the transcript and ensuring her story was preserved authentically for archival purposes at Brock University further developed my attention to detail and respect for oral histories as a valuable research method.
On a personal level, Sister Maria’s openness about her faith and unwavering commitment to service inspired me to reflect on my values and faith as a Muslim. Her story reinforced the importance of dedication to community building and resilience in the face of challenges. Overall, this experience has not only deepened my understanding of Italian-Canadian culture but also enhanced my ability to approach community projects with empathy and professionalism.
Gallery
Outside Of Catetcist Daycare / Sign
Holy Rosary Church of Thorold
Our Lady of The Holy Rosary Parish / Holy Rosary Church of Thorold
Catechistic Sisters Of The Sacred Heart Day Care
Sister Angela Sassano (Far left), Sister Consaolada, Sister Maria D’Alessandro (Far right)
Maria D’Alessandro (Far left) with the 2007-2008 Daycare Class
“W Le Mamme”, Mothers Day Concert – Sister Maria Created All Outfits Shown Here
Mothers Day and Other Cultural Concerts and Events Within the Daycare and Rosary Hall
Daycare Classes
Viva Carneval, Carnival in 1979, Italian Community in the Rosary Hall
The Holy Rosary Hall is Across the Street From the Holy Rosary Church and Daycare. Many Italian and Daycare Events were Organized in this Hall
Bibliography
Hadiyah Ahsan. “HUMN3800: Italian Heritage Project. Interview of Maria D’Alessandro.” Youtube, uploaded by Hadiyah Ahsan, 27 November 2024, https://youtu.be/nVP6Rqtov9c ; access at Italian Communities in Canada: Heritage, Cultural, and Ethnographic Studies as of November 2024.
Marandola, Sabrina. “John Cabot Rediscovered”. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/910498/viewContent/3898917/View
How To Cite This Page
Hadiyah Ahsan. “Sister Maria’s Journey: Catechist Mother-House in Italy to Working in a Canadian Daycare.” In Italian Communities in Canada: Heritage, Cultural and Ethnographic Studies, suprv. Teresa Russo. Brock University, 2 December 2024, St. Catherines. https://www.italianheritage.ca/2024/12/02/sister-marias-journey-catechist-mother-house-in-italy-to-working-in-a-canadian-daycare/. Italian-Canadian Narratives Showcase (ICNS), Hadiyah Ahsan.