Fr. Angelo Pasa - Father of the Canossian Seminary

On August 2, 1881, a child was born to a poor couple named Giuseppe and Maria Luigia Corso at Fonzazo, a relatively small town near Feltre, Italy. The young boy who was baptized on the following day as Giovanni Maria, who later grew up to become a pious, spirit-filled Fr. Angelo Pasa, a visionary with zeal for God, a reformer and a pioneer. He was raised in a traditional catholic environment. The zeal of God was nourished by his mother and by his uncle Fr. Pietro Corso. He excelled in studies, especially in singing, drawing, and gymnastics. In 1898, young Giovanni Maria passed his schooling in grammar at Vicenza.

On October 26, 1898, his uncle Fr. Pietro noticed in the young boy his deep desire to become a Minister of God and took him to Padua Seminary to meet the rector. On acceptance, his uncle not only became his benefactor but also his tutor. Despite of difficulties, young Giovanni Maria pursued his vocation for Priesthood. After completion of his Theological studies in Padua, he was ordained as a Priest on June 17, 1905 at the Cathedral in Padua. After his ordination, he was given various responsibilities such as teacher in Italian, Latin, and Mathematics in Thiene; teacher of Religion and Mathematics in Padua Seminary; rector of Fabriano Seminary; and later he was appointed Administrator of the Curia at the Diocese of Padua. In his capacity as the Administrator, he was strict and fair but at the same time humble in carrying out his responsibilities. On the departure of the Bishop of Padua in 1923 as a Curator of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, Fr Giovanni Maria was in contention for being the next Bishop, but God’s plan was different.

It was during this time he was seriously considering the project of his life, that of being a Canossian. A project conceived during his stay with his uncle in Fabriano. On several occasions he thought of joining the Canossian Institute at St. Job in Venice. As providence would have it, the turning point came about for Fr. Giovanni Maria as well as for the Canossian Institute on October 14, 1923 when he met Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo on his visit to the Canossian Institute.

 After much discernment, two years after the encounter with Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo, on October 31, 1925, Fr. Giovanni Maria joined the Institute. On December 6, 1925, he took the Canossian habit and was named as Angelo. Later after a year of Novitiate, he made his first profession on December 19, 1926. He carried out his apostolate with all humility and simplicity at St. Job’s even though prior to holding high position as a priest. On request of Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo, he made a research and documentary of the Institute who paved way for reform as it helped in later years to get from the Sacred Congregation of Religious the clerical nature of the Institute.

 Two years after his entrance, a Seminary School that trained youth who wished to become Brothers and Priests was opened at Conselve with him as the Director. The newsletter “Il Fglietto” was published in December 1931 as a promotion material for the Seminar

Because of the growth in number of students, on October 31, 1929 another house was opened in Feltre. He remained in Feltre for 12 years as a director, administrator, provider for his students, teacher, tutor, writer, doctor, nurse, prefect, and assistant. During this time, he gave his help to Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo in directing the Institute as it was expanding considerably. It was during this time that he felt that it was necessary to require the Congregation to conform to the Canon Law, hence he was requested by Bro. Giovanni Zocculo to ask the Vatican tor an Apostolic Visit to the Institute. The most remarkable results of the Apostolic Visit were the erection of the Novitiate in Castelli. On May 8, 1938, a formal decree of approval of the Congregation as a Religious Institute of Diocesan Right and acceptance of perpetual profession of ten Brothers and approval of the constitutions were given. During the first General Chapter that was held on September 1946, Fr. Angelo was elected as Superior General of the Congregation. Many foundations were opened, formation houses were organized, and a mission in India was explored. The approval of the Institute as a Pontifical Right was issued on December 29, 1949.

Fr. Angelo’s presence was fundamental to the Congregation during the years of crisis and brought new vitality and life to see the future with hope and confidence. On July 7, 1958, he passed away surrounded by the Superiors of the communities so as to express the gratitude of the whole Congregation, among them Bro. Giovanni Zuccolo. For us Canossian Sons of Charity, Fr. Angelo Pasa is not only a reformer but also a co-founder and remains a model to be followed.