Lic. Fr. Ezra Sullivan, OP
from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC presented on the blend of
inculturation, innovation and tradition in the life of the Italian Dominican
missionary Samuel Mazzuchelli. Fr.
Mazzuchelli was born in Milano in 1806 was ordained and sent to the United
States where he spent the entire rest of his life. He worked directly with the Chippewa, Ottawa
and Winnebago natives and supported the cause of human rights for native
peoples. He was a civic leader, an
architect, musician and artist as well as being a gifted preacher. He designed and built the Iowa state capitol
building. He taught Gregorian chant and
Italian arias to the natives. He wrote liturgies in the Sioux and Chippewa
languages. In Wisconsin he founded the congregation of Dominican sisters known
as the Sinsinawa Dominicans. He is
quoted as saying “No obstacle can impede the faith where religion is preceded
by charity. His detractors claim that he
lacked obedience and prudence. He left
St. Joseph’s because he wanted to found a new province. He believed monastic life was not compatible
with life on the frontier. In the house
of formation he founded not a single candidate persevered. Leadership was not a virtue he
possessed. Fr. Ezra ended his
presentation with a question, “Is it possible he was a good missionary, but a
bad Dominican?”
