Ricordato a Galeazza il beato Baccilieri

12PORTE - July 9, 2026: A community gathered in prayer and gratitude celebrated the memory of Blessed Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri, priest and founder of the Sisters Servants of Mary of Galeazza, in Galeazza Pepoli. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Bishop of Pinerolo, Msgr. Derio Olivero, welcomed by the parish community with Father Marco Ceccarelli, the nuns of the Institute founded by the Blessed, and the numerous faithful who had come for the anniversary. In his homily, Msgr. Olivero invited us to rediscover the authentic meaning of the Christian feast, as an opportunity to pause and recognize the gifts that God continues to offer in daily life. The celebration of Blessed Baccilieri, he observed, is not only the remembrance of a figure from the past, but also an invitation to renew our gratitude for the gift of faith and the Eucharist, the heart of the life of the Church. Through the symbolic story of a king who freely invites his people to a banquet, the bishop proposed an image of the Eucharist as an experience of God's gratuitous love, which calls everyone without distinction and offers each the opportunity to encounter Him. The only response required is a heartfelt willingness to welcome this gift. Finally, recalling the day's Gospel, Bishop Olivero recalled that participation in the Mass is not limited to the celebration itself, but becomes a school of fraternity and service. Those who allow themselves to be transformed by Christ's love, he emphasized, are called to bring it into their daily lives, becoming a presence of hope and joy for others. Born in Renazzo di Cento in 1821, Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri was ordained a priest in 1844 and, after several years of ministry, became parish priest of Galeazza Pepoli, where he remained until his death in 1893. A tireless confessor, spiritual director, and father of the poor, he dedicated his life to the Christian education of young people, assisting the sick, and caring for the most vulnerable. To continue this work, he founded the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary of Galeazza, which continues to be present in the Church today with its charism of service. His fame for sanctity led to his beatification, celebrated on October 3, 1999, by Saint John Paul II. The feast of Blessed Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri has thus become a moment of faith and communion for the entire community of Galeazza, which continues to cherish the memory of its parish priest and draw inspiration from his example of charity, pastoral dedication, and trust in Providence.