Bishop Stephen Ferrando was born on 28th September 1895 in the hamlet of Rossiglione, a fertile valley, a semi medieval town in Genova, Italy. His parents, Augustine Ferrando and Josephine Salvi were from a middle class family. Stephen Ferrando was the eldest of the three children whom the parents brought up in the fear and love of God. His only brother passed away during the 1stworldwar at a very young age.

Carmelite of Lisieux, better known as the Little Flower of Jesus, born at Alencon, France, 2 January, 1873; died at Lisieux 30 September, 1897. From an early age it was Therese's ambition and desire to be a saint. She was born into a pious and loving Catholic family. She remembers the idyll of her early childhood, spending time with her parents and 5 sisters in the un spoilt French countryside. However this early childhood idyll was broken by the early death of her Mother (from breast cancer). Aged only 4 years old, she felt the pain of separation and instinctively turned to the Virgin Mary for comfort and reassurance. The next couple of years of St Therese's' life was a period of inner turmoil. She was unhappy at school, where her natural precociousness and piety, made other school children jealous. Eventually her father agreed for Therese to return home and be taught by her elder sister, Celine.