Closing the Diocesan Phase for Nino Baglieri's Beatification

Closing the Diocesan Phase of the Beatification Process of Nino Baglieri

(ANS – Modica, Italy – April 30, 2024) – It has been 12 years since the start of the diocesan process of beatification and canonization of Nino Baglieri, Volunteer with Don Bosco (CDB). That process began on March  3-4, 2012, in the presence of the then-Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chavez. Now the diocesan phase of the process, an important moment of investigation, study, research, and information collection, is coming to an end: the closing rite of the investigation has been scheduled for May 5,  in Modica, in Nino’s home parish of St. Peter.

March 3-4, 2012, are dates to remember; it was a great event that involved the entire city of Modica and the diocese of Noto, and not only because of the request to start officially the long process of the diocesan investigation into Nino Baglieri’s cause, but also because it was the Rector Major who requested the introduction of the process, visiting these places for the first time.

The rite was presided over by the ordinary, Bishop Antonio Staglianò, in the presence of bishops emeritus Salvatore Nicolosi and Giuseppe Malandrino, who had known Nino Baglieri during his lifetime. In addition, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, postulator general of the Causes of Saints for the Salesian Family, who in all these years has followed the cause, was present.

In recent years, the tribunal appointed by the bishop and the theological censors and the historical commission have taken all the necessary steps. The historical commission, in particular, has researched, collected, studied, and presented the many documentary sources pertaining to the cause: Nino’s personal documents (civil, religious, medical, etc.); writings – published or not – of the Servant of God (such as letters and his fundamental “boccascritti” (written by  mouth) notebooks and diary); significant writings to the Servant of God and writings about the Servant of God (from books to articles, from reports of thanks to many attestations of the good done by Nino and initiatives in his honor). The historical commission has delivered envelopes to the tribunal  with over 15,000 pages of writings, as well as a report that illustrates the work done, evaluates the sources, and presents a first critical biography of the Servant of God.

The court focused its attention on hearing, under oath, from over 100 witnesses: family members, friends (including those of Nino as a teenager), and acquaintances. They accurately reported facts, events, words, and experiences with Nino.

Now a new stage is added to this process: the closure of the diocesan investigation. Once this phase is completed, all the documents produced by the diocese will be sent to the Vatican to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to begin another phase of the process, where both that dicastery and the Salesian general postulation will work on the next stages.

To make the most of these moments, the diocese of Noto, together with the local Salesian Family, has decided to create different opportunities for reflection.

The program included a free showing of the musical Sulle ali dell’Amore (“On the Wings of Love”) on Thursday, May 2, curated by the Cinecircolo Giovanile Socioculturale at the Garibaldi theatre in Modica.

In the morning of May 3, the film on Nino Baglieri will be screened at some educational institutions, while in the afternoon, at the Palazzo della Cultura, a journalist seminar will be held open to citizens, entitled: “Communicating the sacred: The cross and the light. The case of the Servant of God, Nino Baglieri.”

On Saturday, May 4, eve of the closing of the diocesan inquiry, Fr. Cameroni will preside over a meditation and prayer across the places of Nino Baglieri.

The most important moments are scheduled for May 5-6. On the 5th, in St. Peter’s Church in Modica Bassa, the bishop of Noto, Bishop Salvatore Rumeo, will preside over the Eucharist with the closing rite of the diocesan investigation.

On Monday, May 6, the feast of Saint Dominic Savio for the Salesian Family and the anniversary of Nino’s fall from the scaffolding on which he was working, from which came the paralysis that accompanied him throughout his life, there will be a celebration at the Salesian oratory in Modica, presided over by Fr. Chavez, at the end of which there will be a moment of fraternal agape typical of the Salesian tradition.