FRANSIOLI, Father Joseph (1890)

Father Joseph [Giuseppe] Fransioli (1817-1890) was the parish priest of St. Peter’s Church, at the corner of Hicks and Warren Streets, Brooklyn, and apparently it became under his guidance one of the important and wealthiest parishes in Brooklyn.  He was born in Dalpe, in the Ticino in Switzerland on 30 November 1817, ordained a priest on June 7, 1840, and worked in Italy before coming to the United States, and died in Brooklyn 18 October 1890. The Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary was established by Father Francioli in 1882 as the Catholic Mission of the Italian Colony of the City of Brooklyn. This mission was the first Roman Catholic parish community established specifically for Italian immigrants in the Diocese of Brooklyn, which comprised the whole of Long Island, including the counties of Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. Sacred Hearts was established as a national parish that served neighborhood parishioners but also welcomed all Italians. Initially, the new Italian parish occupied space belonging to St. Peter’s church, at the corner of Warren and Hicks Streets.

According to the New York Times, 24 November 1895 a statue was to be erected of Father Francioli in Brooklyn for which a subscription fund was raised.

According to The Brooklyn Eagle of Wednesday, October 29, 1890, Father Fransioli made a last Will on 30 September 1890 leaving his entire estate to his lawyer brother Augustus Fransioli. His other relatives were Florinda O’Brien, Mary Piccoli, Olympia Doyle and William J. Fransioli of 30 Third Place, and Alexandrina Fransioli of 482 Henry Street, all of Brooklyn. Helvetius, Cesar and Stefani Fransioli; Dina Roher and Enrichetta Grignardi, all of Canton Ticino in Switzerland; and Joseph, Augustus, Attitio, Severino, Charles Walter, Pauli, Antoinetti, Asioli and Paulina Romoldi, of New York City.

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Painted in 1890. Painted for the sitter’s Jubilee in 1890, as two newspapers attest:

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 9, 1890: p. 4

Father Fransioli’s Jubilee

Preparations for Its Celebration This and Next Month

‘…One of the attractions of the fair [at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Assembly Rooms] will be a portrait of Father Fransioli, painted by the Italian artist A. Muller Uri. It is valued at $1000…’

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Brooklyn NY Standard Union May 20, 1890: p.4

FIFTY YEARS
Father Joseph Fransioli’s Golden Jubilee

The Fair Held in His Honor at the [Brooklyn] Academy of Music Last Night was opened by ex-President Grover Cleveland – Notable People Present

‘…During the progress of the fair, which will continue for one week, a handsome oil portrait of Father Fransioli from the easel of A Muller Vri, a well-known New York artist, will be drawn for by lottery. The portrait is a valuable one and is said to be an excellent likeness of the good priest…’