Pope Pius XII
1939-1958
1946 POST~WAR
During his first visit to Argentina Don Orione had become deeply interested in the way of life in England. There were many links between Argentina and Britain and Don Orione wished to find out all he could about the country — “Half the world speaks the English language” he wrote, “I have prayed and reflected, meditated and thought and I feel it is necessary and urgent to establish The Sons of Divine Providence in England.”
When peace was restored in 1946 the Superior General, Father Carlo Pensa requested Father Paul Bidone to re-commence the work in England.
Fr. Carlo Pensa 1951-1963.
Fr. Bidone arrived to a cold and grey country, still shell shocked by
the four years of horrific bombardment with cities in ruins, children
orphaned, elderly people without relatives to care for them, the handicapped
for whom the promise of the Welfare State had arrived too late. With only
a ten shilling note and no word of English he had left the colour and
warmth of Italy, his mother and family and the congregation of Tortona
to start a new congregation in England. He was given a room, through some
friends, close to Brompton Oratory where he went daily to Mass and attended
language classes (20 in all) at a school of English in Oxford Street.
Regional Superior 1949 - 1969
His health began to suffer in the smoke-filled air of London but through a lady, Signorina Parodi, he met at the Oratory it was arranged that he went to stay at St. Augustine’s Priory, Haywards Heath. He arrived there on 21st June 1949 and later came to regard the Priory as his “home”. Every year he would return for the Patronal Feast of the Order observed by the Sisters there in April.