In spite of financial problems and the small size of his association at that time, Father Moreau responded favorably to this request, as did Father Edward Sorin, who as a seminarian had been inspired by Bishop Bruté's talk. But because of these difficulties he could not immediately send the missionaries that Hailandière wanted. In August of 1841 Father Sorin set off for America with Brothers Vincent, Joachim, Lawrence, Mary, Gatien and Anselm.
Meanwhile in 1839 Father Moreau had received an appeal from the Bishop Dupuch of Algiers, and in May of 1840 the first four brothers and two priests arrived in Algeria. On the 19th of July, 1840, Moreau signed a letter of agreement setting forth how Holy Cross would support the bishop in Algeria, and how the bishop would support Holy Cross. While the mission in America prospered, the mission in Algeria struggled with great difficulties -- life in the desert was hard, the brothers did not have sufficient financial support, and the Islamic hostility to Christianity made the colonial government reconsider its permission for Holy Cross to operate in Algeria. Expelled in 1842, the brothers, but not the priests, were allowed to return in 1843. They persisted until 1873. In that year, the year Father Moreau died, Holy Cross withdrew from Africa.
© Copyright 2007 by the Archives of the University of Notre Dame.
