On Tuesday, August 11, 2020, the feast of St. Clare of Assisi, Friar Giordano TOLLARDO achieved a century of life. He follows Friar Ilario MORATTI who turned 100 on January 13, 2020. Both friars belong to the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy).
Commenting on this, the Vicar Provincial of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua, Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI, wrote a letter to all the confreres. Here is an extract of that letter:
“Saint Clare’s exercise of mirroring herself in Christ, in order to resemble him as much as possible, is something that Friar Giordano been doing for 100 years!
Friar Giordano was born on August 11, 1920, in Lamon, not far from Feltre, Italy. He entered the seminary in Camposampiero, Italy, on September 21, 1931. He made his temporary profession on August 3, 1937, at the Friary of St. Anthony in Padua and made his solemn profession on October 4, 1941, again in Padua. He was ordained a priest, together with Friar Ilario MORATTI, on June 3, 1944, by the Most Reverend Carlo AGOSTINI, then Bishop of Padua, at the Parish Church of Peraga di Vigonza in the Province of Padua.
Over the years, Friar Giordano applied his talents in various fields. He put his financial-administrative skills to use as the Director of the Casa del Pellegrino [Pilgrim’s House] in Padua from 1952 to 1961, and served as the Econom of the Seraphicum in Rome from 1963 to 1970. He was talented as a teacher and taught mainly in the colleges of the Province. He was gifted in evangelization and carried out pastoral ministry assignments in Rome, Milan and Turin, and performed various tasks entrusted to him by the Managing Editors of the Messaggero di Sant’Antonio [Messenger of St. Anthony magazine]. From 1961 to 1963, he served as a missionary in Istanbul. He was responsible for the Italian translation of “The Sermons of St. Anthony of Padua”, which were published in 1994, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Saint’s birth.
In 2010, the then Minister Provincial, Friar Gianni CAPPELLETTO, transferred Friar Giordano to the Friary of L’Immacolata di Lourdes in San Pietro di Barbozza, Italy, so that he could transmit his peace to others as he lived out the sunset of his existence. Ten years have passed since then and Friar Giordano’s journey continues. Since January of 2018, he has been living in Pedavena, Italy, where he is lovingly assisted by the friars of the local community, in particular, the Guardian, Friar Giuseppe FRANCO. In addition to the care of the friars, Friar Giordano is looked after by a number of sisters and other healthcare providers who make sure that our confrere has everything he needs. Although he may seem understandably foggy at times, there are some days when he shows surprising vitality for a centenarian.
We thank all those who take care of Friar Giordano and our other ailing confreres in Pedavena, and we thank the Lord who has granted long life to several of them. Moreover, through their example, the Lord allows us to experience His extraordinary fidelity.”
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