A ripple of applause. Then, like a sudden surge of electricity, Father Marco Pozza steps onto the stage. From that moment, the atmosphere shifts. The Vicentine priest — chaplain of Padua’s prison and a familiar face on Italian television — opens the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Saint Josephine Bakhita’s canonisation in Schio with the compelling energy of a man who speaks of faith as one speaks of life itself.
It happens here, in the very land that keeps her memory alive. Father Marco invites his listeners to rediscover “the holiness of small things” — the kind that makes no noise, yet builds goodness day after day. “We don’t need heroic gestures,” he reminds them, “only the love to do well even what seems insignificant.” Simple words, yet they draw smiles and glimmers of emotion from those who listen.
The event was born of a shared vision — a collaboration between the Canossian Daughters of Charity, the Canossian Foundation VOICA, the Bakhita Association of Schio, and the Municipality of Schio. A compact team, animated by a single spirit of service. And it showed.
The day opened with greetings from the Mother General and the local Superior, followed by Father Marco’s talk: a burst of wit, warmth and poetry. He spoke of concrete holiness, of real life, and shared his own bond with Bakhita — a “debt of gratitude,” as he called it — born from a quiet family miracle. His story moved many. When faith turns into genuine storytelling, it stops being abstract: it comes down into the crowd and sits beside you.
Then came another moment of grace: the commemoration of Mrs Lollato, a woman from Schio who bequeathed all she possessed to Bakhita’s cause, to support projects in Africa. Her executor painted a tender portrait — a discreet life, full of smiles and small, good deeds. It echoed what had just been said about holiness: that of hidden kindness. A fine, invisible thread linked the two lives — Bakhita’s and Mrs Lollato’s.
The Canossian Foundation VOICA described how that legacy has become concrete aid — education, health, and training projects in African communities. The Bakhita Association of Schio spoke with pride of its ongoing work in Sudan, reminding everyone that the bond between Bakhita and Schio is not merely spiritual: it is alive, present, beating.
The day reached its peak with a Solemn Mass, celebrated by Father Marco together with the Canossian Fathers and priests from neighbouring parishes.
The homily was a small masterpiece of life and faith — that rare blend of humour and reflection that makes people both smile and think. The African choir filled the church with rhythm and hope, and during the offertory, mothers, lay people and children — some in traditional African dress — brought gifts to the altar: a wordless image of unity.
The celebration closed with a communal buffet prepared with care by the Canossian Sisters. Tables laden with food, laughter, handshakes, children darting between chairs — a true feast, warm and human, the kind that reconciles you with life itself.
A perfect ending to a day that reminded everyone that holiness is not unreachable. It dwells quietly in the folds of everyday life — in a kind gesture, a shared smile, a heart open to grace.
