John Pozzobon

João Pozzobon (12 December 1904 – 27 June 1985) was a Catholic permanent deacon and the starter of the Schoenstatt's Pilgrim Mother Campaign (also known as the Rosary Campaign), today present in more than 100 countries in the world. His beatification process is ongoing.

Life

Childhood A son of Italian immigrants established in Southern Brazil, João was born in São João do Polêsine to simple and pious peasant family, that prayed the Rosary every evening. The third of nine brothers, when he was 10 years old he says to his father that he would like to become a Catholic priest. For that reason, he goes to study in the Pallotines seminary in Vale Vêneto, not far from his hometown.

After some 10 months there, he decides to return to his home, because of his poor physical health. At 14, he begins to have serious sight problems, so he could not continue his school studies. For the same reason, he was not deemed fit for military service.

Years later, João will say about his health: "God, in his infinite goodness, did not deem me incapable. He employed me as such I am and entrusted me to his Mother for the Campaign of the Holy Rosary. No one is unable to serve God."

Husband and father

He marries at the age of 23 and has two children, but at 28 his wife dies. He had moved to the city of Santa Maria during the illness of his wife. It is in this city that, at 32 and with two young children, he forms a new household by marrying Victoria Filipetto, with whom he has five other children. He quits his occupation of peasant to open a small shop in the front part of his house. He becomes very respected by the people of his town, especially thanks to his honesty. He said: "I could be a rich man, but I applied only the legitimate profit margin; you can't get what belongs to others." This practice was very different from that of other traders at the time, who sold goods by twice the price they were purchased.

The first contacts with Schoenstatt It is in 1947 that his life crosses the path of the Schoenstatt Movement. He begins his journey of spiritual formation with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and Father Celestino Trevisan. He participates in the blessing of the foundation stone of the Schoenstatt Shrine in Santa Maria. In this ceremony is present Joseph Kentenich, founder of Schoenstatt. This fact will mark him forever: "I felt like a little pupil of Father Kentenich," said Pozzobon later. "Since when I was twelve I felt a void, a lack of something I did not understand. But from that time, I discovered that it was the lack of God and His Mother." John Pozzobon carrying the Pilgrim Mother pictureJohn sealed his Covenant of Love with Mary on 11 April 1948, the day of the blessing and inauguration of the Shrine in Santa Maria.

Requests to receive the visit of the Mother Thrice Admirable picture were increasing. John remains in his store in the morning and, after delivering all orders, he leaves the counter to his wife or children to spend the afternoon by visiting the families to pray the rosary.

John also organizes "missions" in the villages: he brings the picture in the villages and families gather to pray the Rosary. Then he preaches the Gospel, speaks about conversion and inquires about the material and spiritual status of families. So he leaves the village and returns a few days later, bringing material aid and also a priest to celebrate Mass, to confess and marry couples and to baptize children.

Development of the Campaign Over time, John cannot arrive alone to do more visits with the Pilgrim Image; then the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary make copies of the pilgrim image, but in a smaller size to make it easier its transportation by other voluntaries, that visit thirty families each with them.

On 30 December 1972, he is ordained Permanent Deacon by Bishop Eric Ferrari. Deacon John Pozzobon is therefore put to severe hardship. At first, his work is not understood and it is often criticized. But he remains in obedience to his bishop and his parish priest.

"Sometimes, forlorn, I asked myself: What am I doing? I give up what is most dear to me, away from my family, alone in this way. Then I realized: I bring the Mother of God. The world needs heroism. And that gave me back the strength and courage to go on." in the six continents. Even in Antarctica there is a statue of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, in a scientific research station.

Pozzobon traveled more than with the image of the Pilgrim Mother of Schoenstatt in his almost 40 years of apostolate.

Beatification process His beatification process was opened in 1994 in the diocese of Santa Maria. In May 2009 the diocesan phase has been completed and the case was sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The Roman phase of the process began on 3 June 2009, just a week after the arrival of the more than 10,800 documents instructing the cause, which surprised its postulators, who expected a much longer await, between three months and one year for the reception of the case at the Vatican. Since then, John Pozzobon was called a Servant of God. On 20 June 2025 he was declared venerable by Pope Leon XIV.