Father Giorgio Levorato priest for fifty years

by Graziella Lanz and Valeria Bellinato

Celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of Father Giorgio Levorato’s priesthood on Sunday 24 September in the Archpriest church of Vigonza, where he was consecrated on the same day in 1973 by Monsignor Girolamo Bortignon, bishop of Padua.
Present at the concelebration, presided over by Father Giorgio himself, were, among other priests, the parish priest of Vigonza Don Alessandro Spiezia, the Superior General of the Doctrinaries, Father Sergio La Pegna, Father Gustavo Silveira of San Paolo in Brazil who was also celebrating his 50th birthday of priesthood, Father Dieudonné, Burundian, and the seminarian Rodrigo Campos, Brazilian, fresh from his first religious profession.
Father Giorgio presided over the Holy Mass by presenting at the offertory – together with the bread and wine – the chalice which on the day of his priestly ordination was given to him by the community of the parish of Jesus Nazareno, where he completed his theology studies; that of the 25th of priesthood given by the conscripts of ’48, elementary school classmates, the cassock worn on the day of entry into the novitiate in San Damiano; the tablecloth crocheted by Aunt Italia from Venice so she could celebrate outdoors during the scout camps.
In the homily, Father La Pegna recalled Father Giorgio’s sunny character and how he left an important mark on many people he met both in Vigevano (Pavia), in Cavaillon (France) and now in Rome in these years of service.
Anyone who was born and lives in Vigonza knows this: despite the tasks that were entrusted to him and which took him far away, Father Giorgio never lost contact with the town that saw him born, grow up and in which his his vocation.
Together with the Mayor, fellow citizens, many former playmates, friends and relatives, we experienced a beautiful day of celebration: a moment of faith and thanks to God for the gift of Father Giorgio and his contagious joy.