He would have turned 98 in a few days, on January 21st, Monsignor Pierino Galeone, founder of the secular institute “Servants of suffering”. He passed away on Tuesday at “Casa Santa Chiara” in San Giorgio Jonico (Taranto), as announced in a statement by the moderator Don Giuseppe Carrieri.
Born in this town on January 21, 1927, we read on the website Lick holderand, the portal of the Salento diocese, Don Pierino received his first communion at just five years of age and received his confirmation on 11 June 1933. He entered the minor archiepiscopal seminary of Taranto and then the regional one of Molfetta, where he saw his path and his biographical story be seriously compromised due to tuberculosis.
In this difficult situation, in fact, he made the firm decision to go to San Giovanni Rotondo in July 1947 to obtain healing from the stigmatized friar. The meeting with Padre Pio from Pietrelcina immediately proved decisive. The young Pierino suddenly recovers his health, comforted by the Saint’s promise to become a priest.
The July 2, 1950 he was ordained a priest in the parish of Maria SS. Immacolata, in San Giorgio Jonico and then began, in 1952, his pastoral ministry in the parish of Santa Maria del Popolo in San Giorgio Jonico, first as assistant parish priest, then as vicar bursar and, then, from 9 October 1955, as parish priest.
He also dedicated the book to the Saint with the stigmata Padre Pio my father (Sao Paulo).
His apostolic activity has always been aimed at the particular care of souls entrusted to him, especially young people, through spiritual direction, attention to priestly vocations, assistance to lay organizations, charity towards the sick and the poor.
The origins of the Institute must be placed in this apostolic context Servants of sufferingalso present in the Church of Lecce with two communities respectively in Squinzano and in the city. Several factors contributed to the maturation of the project of founding a new spiritual family, Portalecce recalls: the ministry of preaching and spiritual direction towards young people open to the call of the Lord, the profound attraction towards the spirituality of Padre Pio, the numerous youth vocations, a sign of the Lord’s benevolence.
Among these elements of great importance was, in particular, his personal inspiration to carry out this work.
Condolence was expressed by the archbishop of Lecce, Msgr. Michele Seccia, and by the coadjutor archbishop, Msgr. Angelo Raffaele Panzettawho raise prayers of suffrage to the Lord so that he can welcome into his embrace this “good and faithful servant” (Mt 15.21) who spent so much for the proclamation of the Gospel.
The funeral chapel will be set up from 12pm on Tuesday at the parish church Santa Maria del Popolo in San Giorgio Jonico. The funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 10 in Piazza San Giorgio in San Giorgio Jonico.
