João Luiz Pozzobon: family man
João Luiz Pozzobon was born on December 12, 1904, near the community of Ribeirão, in the current city of São João do Polêsine/RS, region of the Fourth Colony, descendant of Italian immigrants.
In 1928, at the age of 23, he married Thereza Turcato and they moved to Restinga Seca/RS, where they had two children, Ely and Ary.
A few years later, his wife fell seriously ill. Seeking better medical care, they moved to the city of Santa Maria, settling in a hotel and later in Km 3, 500 meters from the house that would be his residence for the rest of his life. His wife, however, worsened and died in 1933.
“I was left with two small children and a bit of a delayed engagement. And I didn’t even know where my path was going to take me… they advised me to start remarry… and I agreed. So, it was with my wife, Vitória, that I met up with, and we married again.”
João Luiz Pozzobon married Vitória Filipetto in 1933, with whom he had five more children (Nair, Otília, Pedrolina, Vilma, and Humberto). Vitória died in 1979, and João continued to live in that house with his daughters Ely and Vilma, often receiving visits from friends and relatives.
“We came to live in this house where we are today… it’s where I raised my children… I educated them in school… I fulfilled my Sunday duties, all here.” João Luiz Pozzobon
Welcome to the Pozzobon family home!
The work of the land
From a young age, João Luiz Pozzobon learned how to grow cereals, vegetables, fruit trees, and how to take care of farm animals, a legacy of the Fourth Italian Colony.
“When I needed to make bread, he was the one who fetched and chopped the firewood. When we went to harvest corn, he always chose the hardest part to help us out.” – João Pozzobon’s sisters.
At Santa Maria, in the backyard of his house, he kept a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and animals for family consumption and small trade. Before leaving for his apostolate, he left everything organized, even the firewood cut. He always sought to unite work and prayer.
“So, while plowing […] passing my hand over the handle of the hoe, I would count five Hail Marys down, and five Hail Marys up.” – João Luiz Pozzobon.
From the Hotel to João Pozzobon’s Warehouse
The Hotel : Between 1928 and 1931, João Pozzobon and his first wife, Dona Thereza, maintained a small hotel in Restinga Seca, near the railway station.
After moving to Santa Maria, they continued in the business for a period, but closed the business due to his wife’s illness.
The Warehouse : After initially running a small shop on Osvaldo Cruz Avenue, João maintained a warehouse of “dry and wet” goods in the family home. The business followed his principles. For example: fair prices and measurements: “1 kg is 1 kg”; rationed sales during the war to serve everyone; always paying suppliers and the municipality on time; rejecting advertisements that disrespected the dignity of women; and keeping a collection box to support Church projects.
Routine : He opened the shop at 7:30, served at the counter, and made deliveries by carriage. He closed around 7:30 and helped look after the children while Vitória prepared dinner. With the start of the Campaign in 1950, he dedicated two hours a day to the mission. Little by little, as his children took on responsibilities at home and in the store, he acknowledged, “Slowly, Mother began to win me over more and more.”
A house with movement
The Pozzobon family home was an ordinary house, probably like yours. This environment reflects the life in a house that changes over time. For a period, this room was the sons’ bedroom, and when they left home, it became a guest room, a sewing room, and eventually a place for ironing and storing some family items. It was also in this house, amidst the daily activities, that João Luiz Pozzobon, along with his wife and children, sought to follow a path of holiness.
Canonization Process
João Luiz Pozzobon (1904-1985)
“Permanent Deacon and Father of a Family”
1994 – Opening of the Diocesan phase.
2009 – Opening of the Roman phase.
2025 – Declared Venerable by Pope Leo XIV.
- Beatification after the approval of a miracle.
- Canonization after analysis of a miracle following Beatification.
Meeting of João Luiz Pozzobon with Father Joseph Kentenich in 1952:
João Luiz Pozzobon : “- There is a man who, when he goes to pray the Rosary, dresses in his best clothes, like someone going to a party.”
Father Joseph Kentenich : “- Then don’t tell him anything, but he ’s going to be a saint.”