St Giovanni Calabria

Giovanni was born into a very poor family with 6 older brothers.  His father died when Giovanni was only 10 years old, and he had to leave school to go to work to help his family.  Even though he didn’t have much schooling, he still wanted to be a priest when he grew up.  After serving with the Army of Italy for 2 years, he worked really hard to pass the exams needed to get into the Seminary.  While he was still studying to be a priest, he found a boy on the doorstep of his house.  This boy had run away from the gypsies (people who live on the streets and travel from place to place).  Giovanni decided to take care of the boy, as he was an orphan and had nowhere to go.  This event, as well as his experience growing up in poverty, led Giovanni to a life-long mission of taking care of the poor, sick, and orphaned.  After serving as priest for 6 years, Fr. Giovanni started his own congregation of priests called the “Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence”.  This Congregation spread quickly throughout Italy and many other countries.  He also started the “Poor Sister Servants of Divine Providence” for women who wished to serve the poor, sick, and orphaned.