The origins
“…and the Work will extend to the
whole Earth"
don Luigi Monza, Founder of “La Nostra Famiglia"
The Association was the first in Italy to understand the
importance of rehabilitation: the first outpatient Rehabilitation
Center recognized by the Italian Health Department in 1954
belongs to “La Nostra Famiglia”.
La Nostra Famiglia has never stopped growing up and today
is present in 8 Regions of Italy and in 4 Countries in the
world.
Thanks to its long experience in the rehabilitation and research
field related to childhood disability it counts today among
the biggest and most qualified organizations in Europe.
Yet, “La Nostra Famiglia” continues to grow as
we believe that the prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.
The Founder
Luigi Monza was born in Cislago (Varese) on June 22, 1898
in a peasant family, and entered seminary at the age of 18
after experiencing the hardships of field work, the nights
spent up to study and the daily struggle for life of poor
people.
He was ordered priest on 19 September 1925.
His first pastoral engagement was with the youth of Vedano
Olona (Varese) parish church.
At the beginning of his priestly life he experienced many
ordeals such as the imprisonment during the Fascist regime.
In 1929 he was assigned to the Sanctuary of Saronno, where
he involved young people in the parish's life.
In 1936 he was appointed parish priest of San Giovanni Church
in Lecco.
In 1937 he founded Secular Institute “Le Piccole Apostole
della carità” and Association “La Nostra
Famiglia” for children with disabilities. Today, “La
Nostra Famiglia” groups many Rehabilitation Centres
in Italy and abroad.
He died on 29 September 1954.
On 23 February 1991, the canonization process for don Luigi
was declared closed by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini in Ponte
Lambro (Como), where don Luigi is buried.
On 20 December 2003 Pope John Paul II signed the Decree of
Venerability which recognized the heroic virtues of don Luigi
Monza and elected don Luigi to a venerable servant of God.
On 19 December 2005 Pope Benedetto XVI presented Cardinal
José Saraiva Martins, Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, with the Decree acknowledging a miracle through the
intercession of don Luigi Monza.
On 6 January 2006 Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi announced that
next 30 April Pope Benedetto XVI will preside over the Mass
for the beatification of Don Luigi Monza in the Milan Dome.
On 30th April 2006, the solemn ceremony for the beatification
of Don Luigi Monza took place in the Milan Dome.
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Italian