Justin Russolillo

Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo (18 January 1891 – 2 August 1955) was founder of the Vocationist Fathers, the Vocationist Sisters and Apostles of Universal Sanctification.

Russolillo was born in Pianura, Italy on 18 January 1891. After completing his seminary studies, he was ordained a priest on 20 September 1913. On the day of his ordination he vowed to found a religious congregation for promoting vocations to priesthood and religious life. On 30 April 1914, with a group of young men that had been in formation (as a seminarian, Justin used to teach catechism to some young boys of his town and he found in some of them some true signs of priestly of religious vocations and he continued to give them formation even after becoming a priest), he tried to set up a community life. But this did not last long.

He was appointed the parish priest of St. George's church in Pianura in 1920. On 18 October 1920, he started the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), popularly known as the Vocationist Fathers. And on 2 October 1921, he also founded the Vocationist Sisters.[1]

In 1927, the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV) received diocesan approval. The Vocationist Sisters and the Fathers became congregations of Pontifical Right in 1947 and 1948, respectively. In 1950, Fr. Justin sent three missionary priests to Brazil to open a community there. Now the congregation serves in Italy, Brazil, the United States, France, Argentina, Philippines, Nigeria, India, Madagascar, Indonesia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the United Kingdom and South Africa.[2]

Fr. Justin died on 2 August 1955 in Pianura. On 18 January 1980, the process of beatification started at the diocesan level in the archdiocese of Naples by Cardinal Corrado Ursi. On 18 December 1997, he was proclaimed "Venerable." On 1 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI approved the miracle through the intercession of Fr. Justin and signed the decree of Fr. Justin's beatification. He was officially declared "Blessed" on 7 May 2011, and his feast day is 2 August.[3]

Works

References

  1. ↑ Louis Caputo, A Servant of the Divine Vocations: Fr. Justin Russolillo (New Jersey: Vocationist Fathers) 1988
  2. ↑ Caputo and Marisa Patarino, A Life for Vocations (San Mauro: Stige) 2004 ISBN 2-7468-0983-4
  3. ↑ http://vocationistnigeria.org/beatificationpreparations.html

External links