Philadelphia’s Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated a Mass for the Don Guanella and Divine Providence Communities, offering hope to more than 400 severely disabled individuals. 

The group has centers throughout the world that help to care for the marginalized among us. 

“It filled me with great joy to celebrate Mass for @DGDPCommunities, a ministry of @CSSPhiladelphia of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, marking the feast of their patron saint, St. Louis Guanella. This 19th-century Italian priest, known as Don Guanella, ministered to children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The Mass also concluded the year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Don Guanella Village, which opened in Delaware County on Oct. 30, 1960. May God bless this vital ministry and those entrusted to its care!” Archbishop Nelson Perez, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, tweeted.

St. Louis of Guanella was an impoverished and illiterate man who became a priest in Italy, despite violent persecutions against the Church. He was a priest for 50 years and opened up multiple homes to care for the poor, disabled and infirm, according to Servants of Charity.

The DGDP Communities work alongside their partner, the Catholic Social Services, and endeavor to make their residents feel the respect and dignity with which each individual is intrinsically endowed.