DON BOSCO SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY NEWSLETTER VOL 2 NO 10

KALAKBAY
OCTOBER 2022

THE JOY OF SERVING

By: May Ferreros
St. Artemide Zatti was born on 12 October 1880 in Italy, and Content
died on 15 March 1951 at Viedma, Argentina. As a Salesian 01 The Joy of Serving
religious brother, he became a saint by running a hospital 02 Online Courses
and pharmacy for the sick poor for 40 years in Viedma, 03 President's Corner
Argentina.

On Sundays the Zatti family faithfully assisted at Mass and

other activities in the parish of the Salesian Fathers who in
1890 set up a community in Bahía Blanca. With true
apostolic spirit, Artemide used his free time to help the
Salesian parish priest in his parish activities and, especially,
in visiting the sick. He was inspired by the life of Don Bosco
and by the Salesian priests and felt called to imitate him.

In 1900 when he was 19, the Salesians accepted him as a

student for the priesthood. But he had great difficulty with
his studies since he had left elementary school long before.
Also, during the novitiate, Artemide contracted a severe case
St. Artemide Zatti
of TB from taking care of a young priest who contracted it.
(continued next page)

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THE JOY OF SERVING
(continued)
In 1902 Artemide was forced to leave the house of studies to seek a cure in the
pure air of Viedma, a city located high in the Andes. Little did he realize that
Viedma was going to be his city for the rest of his life. Along with the healthy
climate, in Viedma there was a hospital and pharmacy attached to the Salesian
College run by Fr Evaristo Garrone, a priest and physician who was known for his
empirical approach to medicine. Fr Evaristo was also known for his trust in God's
Providence; he never turned away the poor who could not pay. Under his guidance,
Artemide made a promise to Our Lady, Help of Christians, that if she would obtain
a cure for him, he would serve the sick and the poor for the rest of his life. When he
was cured, he promptly continued his training as a Salesian religious brother. In
1908 he took his vows and began his mission alongside Fr Garrone. When Fr
Evaristo died in 1911, Artemide was put in charge of the pharmacy and the hospital.
He was a trained pharmacist, nurse, operating-room assistant, as well as juggler of
finances and head of personnel. He followed his mentor's rule that "he who has
little, pays little and the one who has nothing pays nothing". In running the
hospital, Artemide also depended entirely on Providence and the generosity of the
people. In his 40 years of dedicated service, he found in his religious life, with its
periods of prayer and community life, the secret of balancing the daily tasks of
administering the hospital and pharmacy, taking care of patients inside and
outside the hospital. Despite the demands of the sick and the needs of the
hospital, Artemide was known for his "Salesian joy", a sign of his holiness for those
around him. He was "not only a provider of medicine, but was himself a medicine
for others by his presence, his songs, his voice ...". (source: www.vatican.va)

The Sandor Community is a group of Salesian laybrothers who like St. Artemide Zatti have dedicated their
lives to God to serve the young, especially the poorest. When asked about what inspires them about the life
of St. Artemide, some of them had this to say:
St Artemide inspires me with his dedication to his ministry. He never abandoned those who were in need whenever
they came to him. - Bro. Filipe de Conceicao, SDB (Timor Leste)
For me, he is a model of simplicity because he uses his bicycle daily to work; a model of service because of his untiring
dedication and love for his patients, and a man of prayer because he prays at all times in the chapel or anywhere he
goes. He spends the last moments of the day talking to God. - Br. Quanghan Nguyen, SDB (Vietnam)
St Artemide's love for Jesus and Mary helped him bring many people to Christ. His love for sick patients moves me
because he sees Christ in them like a true Samaritan. He had a great love for the poor and the suffering and that is the
reason why I call him Don Bosco of the poor. - Br. Jayson Fernandes, SDB (India)

These testimonies prove that St. Artemide Zatti can be very instrumental in showing all of us that one can
be a saint through the love for God expressed in the simplicity of life and joyful service to the poor.

The Sandor Community offers these lay brothers a two-year theological, pastoral and Salesian formation in
order to help them to be educators and evangelizers of the young in the spirit of St. John Bosco. If you wish
to support our Salesian lay brothers in their mission, please feel free to contact May Ferreros at
(0998)9951219 or email her at grantsandscholarship@donbosco.edu.ph
President's Corner
Online We're about to celebrate ALL SAINTS' DAY
Courses and we're just so happy to announce to you
that the Salesian Society founded by St John
This online courses Bosco has a new intercessor in heaven, St
are FREE for all
Artemide Zatti. In fact, the miracle that was
our benefactors. needed as proof of his holiness happened to
Please contact a Filipino, Renato Narvaez whose cure was
0966 2969978 given up by doctors. St Artemide will surely
should you want to
listen to your supplications, especially for
attend any of them.
good health.
www.dbcs.edu.ph
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