St. John Calabria (1873-1954)

Born to a poor family in Verona, he served in the military before completing his priestly studies. After his ordination, he was appointed seminary confessor and curate of St. Stephen’s Church. He devoted himself with particular zeal to hearing confessions, and to charitable works, helping in particular the poorest and the outcasts. In 1907 he was appointed Rector of St Benedetto del Monte. On November 26th, 1907 he founded the “Casa Buoni Fanciulli.” The following year it moved definitely to Via San Zeno in Monte. He revived the apostolic spirit of the Church in Verona. This nucleus of men was the foundation of the “Congregation of the poor servants of Divine Providence” which was approved by the Bishop of Verona on the 11th February 1932 and obtained Pontifical approval on the 25th April 1949. Immediately after the Diocesan approval, the Congregation spread out to various parts of Italy – serving the poor, the abandoned and the outcasts. It also extended its works to the elderly and to the sick, reviving them in the “Cittadella della Carita.” The apostolic heart of Fr. Calabria went to the faraway Paria in India when he sent four of his Brothers to Vijayavada. In 1910 he also founded the female branch “Le Sorelle” which later became the Congregation by Diocesan Right on the 25th March 1952 bearing the name of Poor women servants of Divine Providence and on the 25th December 1981 it obtained the Pontifical approval. He was beatified in 1988 and canonized in 1999.
(From the Vatican website)