Father Peter Rosazza
Father Rosazza was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up in Torrington, Connecticut. He attended Dartmouth College and was ordained a priest at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1961. During the course of his studies he traveled to Europe and Latin America, learning Spanish and French. Once back in the United States, he was placed in the Sacred Heart parish in Hartford, Connecticut, where he worked closely with the Puerto Rican community. He witnessed many of the struggles faced by the immigrant community, including unaffordable housing and language barriers to critical services, such as hospitals. During his time at Sacred Heart, he met many strong Puerto Rican leaders who helped improve conditions for their community, including Maria Sanchez, Olga Mele, and Father Las Heras.
This interview is indexed in English with audio mainly in English.
In his interview, he discusses:
- Language and culture
- Hartford’s Puerto Rican community
- Discrimination
- Catholic schools
- Church and community
- Social justice