Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo -Father of the Canossian Oratorio

For almost 65 years, except for brief periods in which, as Superior General, he had to leave Venice, Bro Giovanni was always present in the Oratorio, gradually taking on more responsibilities; always with the same style of attention and care for everyone, children, young people and adults. He was concerned that the Oratorio should be for everyone a healthy place of human education and above all Christian formation, using the same instruments that he had learned from the first Fathers and the tradition of San Giobbe, such as daily catechism, taught above all as a “story” of Jesus’ life and Passion, theatre or puppet show.

Then, there is his lesson of “fraternity”. Bro. Giovanni was strongly attached to his vocation as a Brother; even reluctant, as witnesses confirm, to go to the sanctuary or to wear the cotta to serve Mass. As a Brother, he loved the community and knew how to dedicate himself to it, creating a serene atmosphere with his presence, thanks even to his characteristic humor, like a good Venetian. Without many theoretical lessons about his vocation as a Brother, his life was the clearest witness that a consecrated “Brother” can fully realize himself in his dedication to God and to the Work of charity, be a builder of the community, even though carrying heavy responsibilities of government, a catechetical formator of boys and young people and a guide for adults.


Once again, Bro. Giovanni is giving us a lesson on “humility”. Many are the events that underline this virtue. The event is well known in which, after having been literally insulted by another Brother who did not accept his decision, he calmly turned to the Brother saying he was right, but without changing the responsible decision taken according to his conscience.

Cardinal Pietro La Fontaine, who held him in high esteem insistently proposed to him to be ordained priest. Bro. Giovanni, though taking seriously into consideration the reasons given by the Patriarch, without hesitation refused, affirming that he wanted to remain what he was and, that is, a simple Canossian Brother.


And lastly, there is his lesson of “piety”, of his hidden but deep life of union with the Lord. From the tradition of the first Fathers he learned to spend and savor long hours in the morning, evening or night, in prayer, in the cold and humid choir stalls of the friars. Though daily surrounded by the boys in the Oratorio, to those whom he met, he gave the impression of being constantly immersed in prayer. Even his lips, always moving because he was saying brief prayers, learnt from his teachers, gave the impression of a man who became prayer. And prayer became his constant work during the last years of his life, when strength did not allow him to remain any longer in the Oratorio.  In 1958, when he was almost eighty-four years old, Bro. Giovanni participated in the General Chapter of Asolo; he looked like a patriarch in the midst of his sons. He was asked by them to say something and, with a trembling but inflamed and energetic voice, gave us his spiritual will: “Çerchemo i fioi; curèmo i fioi; educhèmo i fioi, amèmo i fioi!”. In his usual Venetian dialect, with a tone of petition, he summarized the very mission of the Institute: that mission lived till then and which the Institute would never abandon, if it wanted to be faithful to its vocation and charism.