Vincentian models celebrated in May

A martyred gypsy and a 24 year old who died of polio contracted while working among the poor were both members of the St. Vincent dePaul Society and share feast days in May . Ceferino Jimenez Mella – Feast Day May 4, 1997

Ceferino was the first Gypsy to be beatified. A member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, he was martyred August 9, 1936 in Spain.

Ceferino was born in 1861 in Benavent de Segria, in Lerida Province, Catalonia. He is best known as a Spanish Gypsy martyred during Spain’s civil war. Ceferino was a deeply religious man who tried to improve relations between Gypsies and non-Gypsies by mediating in conflicts. He tried to sow harmony and solidarity between the Gypsies

Pier Giorgio Frassati – Beatified May 20, 1990

Pier Giorgio died on July 24, 1925, at the age of 24. He became a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at age 17 in 1918. His parents were surprised to find the streets of the city lined with thousands of mourners as the cortege passed. Those who mourned his death most were the poor and needy whom he had served so unselfishly for seven years; in turn many of these were surprised that the came from such an influential family.

See also Vincentian Encyclopedia at http://www.famvin.org/wiki/Pier_Giorgio_Frassati