Alexander Peloquin. composer in residence at Boston College. and director of music at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. R.I. This beautiful concelebration of the Eucharist and inspiring music was followed by the centennial banquet. during which I took note of the migration of French speaking people from Canada to Springfield more than 100 years ago. and the founding of the first French language Roman Catholic Church. as follows: In 1873. more immigrants came to the United States than in any previous yearmore than 460.000 streamed in from northern Europe and Canada. And in Springfield. during the years 1865 to 1875. the French speaking community had tripled from 600 to more than 1700 people. Historians describe the French speaking community of that time as among the poorest and most unskilled nationality group in the cityhampered by language barriers. without institutional strength or identity. hardly visible. much less assertive. in community life.
Identified stereotypes
French speaking community described as among the poorest and most unskilled nationality group.