New School Named for Pier Giorgio

For the past several weeks, I've been in on a great Pier Giorgio secret. Yesterday, the news was made public. In the Chicago Archdiocese, a new middle school was announced for the 2010-11 school year. It will be called Frassati Catholic Academy. The school's motto will be "Reach for the Heights!" Needless to say, this is exciting news for all of us laboring in the "Frassati vineyard." Click here to read more from a Chicago paper.

How the time flies...

It is hard to believe that two years have gone by since the death of Luciana Frassati. Unlike her brother Pier Giorgio who lived to be only 24 years old, she passed the centenary mark and died at the age of 105 on Sunday, October 7, 2007. What a beautiful entry into eternal life -- on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Even more beautiful is that she died peacefully in her bedroom in the place where she was born.

On my first visit to Pollone, Italy, after Luciana's death, I was struck by the absence of her presence. I had gotten used to seeing her each day during my visits there and hearing her voice when she came down the main staircase. These days, I enjoy thinking about her being united with her big brother and accomplishing great things from above.

Our pilgrimage group visited her tomb this past summer and prayed the "De Profundis" there for her intention. It would be a nice spiritual gift to make to her today from wherever you are.

Frassati in Michigan

More good news of another Frassati Society that has recently formed! According to the group's website, the Marquette Frassati Society was founded by four Catholic churches in the Marquette, Michigan area. "This group reaches out to young adults and families to offer both spiritual enrichment and charitable opportunities to its members along with time for fellowship."

If you are in the Marquette area, check it out!

Frassati in Florida

Great news about a new Frassati club springing up at St. Francis Catholic High School in Gainesville, Florida. The club will be committed to fellowship, service, prayer, study and action. The group hopes to attend the March for Life in January and be a "campus ministry" group. Thanks to Matthew Irwin and Nicole Muser for the info!

Pier Giorgio sighting at amusement park!

Have you seen Pier Giorgio lately?! Here is a fun picture of someone spotted wearing the "Verso l'alto" t-shirt at an amusement park (Kennywood) in Pittsburgh. After seeing this, I remembered that Pier Giorgio visited an amusement park in Munich back in September of 1921. He wrote about it to his friend Gian Maria Bertini:

"Last night I went with Mr. Dück and his sister, a nice young lady dark skinned and very Italian looking, to the Festwiese, a feast which takes place every year at the end of September and lasts two weeks and where you can find all amusements like merry-go-rounds, rollercoasters, etc."

If you have any fun pictures of "Pier Giorgio sightings" send them to us! By the way, the Verso l'alto t-shirt is on sale now during our summer clearance. Only a handful of small and mediums are left. Get yours today and hit the roller coasters!

Remembering Luciana Frassati

Pier Giorgio's younger sister Luciana was born on August 18, 1902. They were 16 months apart and were raised like twins, she said. I met Luciana in 2006 on the occasion of her 104th birthday -- a day I will never forget -- and had the privilege of spending several months in her company at the Frassati family villa. When she died on October 7, 2007, at the age of 105, I was blessed to attend her funeral. This summer, when the FrassatiUSA Pilgrimage arrived in Pollone, Italy, to spend two days at the family home, it was my first trip there without Signora Luciana being in the house. How I missed her presence.

Today we mark her 107th birthday. May God grant her eternal memory and peaceful, blessed repose.

Frassati Servers

So far this summer, I have learned of two different groups of Frassati Servers. One group is here in the U.S. and one is in Ireland. It struck me that the idea is already intercontinental and, therefore, must be an inspired one! In any case, it is worth passing along to all of you.

From Kansas, Jane Alexander writes, "Our priest, Fr. Jason Borkenhagen, started the Frassati Servers in our parish about four years ago. Both of my sons have been Frassati Servers during this time and have learned a deeper role in serving Mass as well as serving the people of the parish. Frassati Servers are boys of high school age and are given a few more responsibilities in serving the Mass. Along with working, they also get together for ballgames, trips to the lake as well as participating in special Masses at our Diocesan Cathedral."

From Northern Ireland, Father Peter O'Kane writes: "Recently I formed a club for our twenty-five altar servers under the patronage of Pier Giorgio; we call it the 'Frassati Club'. We celebrated Mass together with their families on Pier Giorgio's Feast Day for the first time in the parish and we had a little party afterwards. I told them about the international gathering in Pollone earlier that day and how we were spiritually united to you."

What a great way to inspire youth as they serve the Lord during Mass -- something Pier Giorgio did so often. His example on the altar was edifying to so many who were present. In her book about the Faith of Pier Giorgio, his sister Luciana writes:

"Serving Mass was something normal for him to do, and never burdensome or difficult. He felt instinctively that he was taking one more step up toward Jesus.

So he wanted to do whatever would bring him close to the priest at the altar. Monsignor Pini, for whom he served on many occasions, said one time, “Pier Giorgio served Mass in an exemplary way.”

But even before he said this, just about everyone else agreed. They had seen Pier Giorgio kneeling on the marble or stone steps, his eyes focused on the consecrated Host, and on the deliberate and solemn movements of the priest.

He was happy serving Mass, which explains his deeply spiritual attitude. He was so happy that when he was in Pollone he often served Mass twice a day."

If you have a Frassati Servers group at your church, tell us about it by adding a comment to this blog. Verso l'alto!