On Sunday, October 9, Pope Francis canonized two Italians in St. Peter's Square, Rome. The new saints are Giovanni Battista Scalabrini and Artemide Zatti.
Born in the town of Scalabrini in the province of Pavia, Italy, in 1839, Scalabrini is known as the founder of the Missionaries of St. Charles, or the Scalabrinianis. He is also known for his love of their missions in the Americas.
On the other hand, Zatti was born in 1880 in Italy. After his family moved to Argentina, he served as a lay Salesian and nurse in Patagonia.
Scalabrini was the first Italian bishop to cross the sea to visit migrant workers.
Foreseeing the need for specific pastoral care for the people of the sea, Scalabrini required his missionaries to accompany them during the voyage, which was dangerous, long, and in need of a lighthouse. Therefore, it was in his heart to take care of the people of the sea.
He envisioned the care of migrants from the point of origin (Italy), during the sea journey (Chaplain), and to the end of arrival (Americas). Thirty-four years after the Scalabrinian Congregation was born on Nov 28, 1887, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) was born in Glasgow, Scotland (Oct 4, 1921) as the Church’s pastoral response to the people of the sea.
Today, the Scalabrinians are present in 14 ports around the world (Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe) caring for seafarers, fishers, and their respective families, consequently, remaining faithful to the original vision of the founder.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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