|
Born
to
Stephen
and
Maria
Giaccardo
on
the
13th
of
June
1896
in
Narzole,
north
Italy,
Joseph
Giaccardo
was
baptized
on
the
same
day.
He
grew
up
under
the
loving
care
of
his
parents
who
were
farmers.
At
the
age
of
four,
he
was
sent
to
the
nursery
school.
From
his
parents
he
inherited
a
love
for
the
Church
and
a
filial
love
towards
the
Heavenly
Mother
Mary
and
a
special
devotion
to
the
Holy
Eucharist.
"I
want
to
be a
priest
to
go
and
preach",
he
said
when
he
was
only
seven
years
old.
While
studying
in
the
school
he
was
also
an
Altar-server.
At
the
age
of
12,
Joseph
got
acquainted
with
Fr
James
Alberione
who
was
then
temporarily
assigned
to
be
the
assistant
to
the
ailing
Parish
Priest
of
Narzole.
Joseph
told
Fr
Alberione
his
desire
to
become
a
priest
but
expressed
that
it
would
be
impossible
for
him
to
join
the
seminary
as
his
poor
parents
would
not
be
able
to
meet
the
expenses
involved.
Seeing
Joseph
sincere,
pious
and
of
very
good
character,
Fr
Alberione
promised
him
all
the
needed
help.
Joseph
was
overjoyed,
sought
the
blessings
of
his
parents,
and
joined
the
seminary
of
Alba
in
October
1908.
Under
the
guidance
of
Fr
Alberione,
Joseph
advanced
his
seminary
studies
and
steadily
progressed
in
spiritual
life.
Realising
that
the
Press
is
an
effective
means
of
spreading
the
message
of
the
Gospel,
he
besought
Fr
Alberione
for
permission
to
join
the
already
established
"Printing
School"
which
would
later
become
the
Society
of
St
Paul.
However,
Fr
Alberione
did
not
admit
him
to
the
Printing
School
immediately,
but
advised
him
to
pray
with
profound
humility.
While
Joseph
was
praying
for
light,
|
 |
Fr Alberione
faced
a
new
situation.
He
was
called
to
minister
to
the
soldiers
in
war
and
had
to
leave
immediately
with
no
one
to
look
after
the
boys
of
his
Printing
School.
He,
therefore,
with
the
consent
of
the
seminary
authorities,
called
in
cleric
Joseph
to
take
care
of
the
boys
during
his
absence.
On
the
4th
of
June
1917
Joseph
left
the
seminary
and
joined
the
group
of
Fr
Alberione.
On
the
8th
of
September
1917
Joseph
Giaccardo
and
four
young
men
of
the
Printing
School,
renamed
as
"Society
of
St
Paul",
made
their
first
Religious
Profession.
Immediately
Fr
Alberione
appointed
Joseph
Giaccardo
as
the
Master
in-charge
of
formation
of
his
boys.
On
the
19th
of
October
1919
Joseph
Giaccardo
was
ordained
and
became
the
first
priest
of
the
Society
of
St
Paul.
At
the
renewal
of
his
Religious
Profession
he
was
given
a
new
name,
"Timothy"by
Fr
Alberione.
Fr
Timothy
Giaccardo
was
always
the
right-hand
of
Fr
Alberione.
He
shared
with
the
founder
the
joys
and
sorrows,
hopes
and
anxieties
that
marked
the
birth
and
growth
of
the
congregation.
As
the
first
House
of
the
SSP
in
Alba
was
progressing
fast,
the
Founder
was
inspired
to
start
a
new
House
in
Rome.
So
he
sent
Fr
Giaccardo
to
Rome
in
1926.
By
1929
the
House
of
Rome,
not
far
away
from
the
tomb
of
St
Paul,
was
well
established.
He
was
then
called
back
to
Alba
and
back
again
in
Rome
in
1932
where
he
remained
till
1936.
From
1936
to
1946
he
was
the
Superior
of
the
Mother
House
in
Alba.
In
1946
he
was
back
in
Rome
and
was
appointed
to
be
the
first
Vicar
General
of
the
Society.
His
health
started
declining
in
1947
and
he
was
diagnosed
as
having
acute
leukaemia.
On
the
24th
of
January
1948
at
1.30
p.m.,
he
was
called
Home
to
eternal
bliss
after
receiving
the
general
absolution
from
the
Founder.
On
the
22nd
of
October
1989
Fr
Timothy
Giaccardo
was
proclaimed
"Blessed"
by
Pope
John
Paul
II.
|
|
