On this October 1st, exactly 82 years after the martyrdom of Martino Capelli (SCJ) and Elia Comini (SDB) on October 1st, 1944, a Thanksgiving Mass was held in Calvenzano, the birthplace of Fr. Elia Comini, to mark his recent beatification on September 27th.
Alongside the Dehonian Martino Capelli and the diocesan priest Ubaldo Marchioni, the Salesian Elia Comini was beatified on Sunday, September 27th, 2026, in the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna. Shortly after this event, his native village welcomed various visiting delegations on October 1st for a celebration of thanksgiving—most notably the Salesian family, diocesan representatives, and several Dehonians, alongside Superior General Fr. Carlos Luis Suarez, who presided over the Eucharist.
Thanksgiving and Inauguration of a Welcome House
In his homily, Fr. Carlos Luis Suarez recalled the historic and fraternal meeting between Don Bosco and Fr. Léon Dehon in Paris in 1883—a historic reference that captured the special attention of the spiritual sons of both founders present at the celebration.
This beautiful day of remembrance continued with a concrete gesture of charity: the blessing and inauguration of the “Don Elia Comini” family home, dedicated to welcoming young mothers. Led by the Don Bosco Missions community, this project aims to perpetuate the work of love and service of the blessed martyr Elia Comini.
Commemoration of the 82nd Anniversary of Their Martyrdom
On this 82nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the two religious, now blessed, the day of thanksgiving concluded with a moment of prayerful recollection at La Botte, the site where Elia Comini and Martino Capelli were cruelly executed. The Salesians and Dehonians gathered there to pray together through the intercession of both blessed martyrs. Wreaths of flowers laid by the local administration in memory of Martino Capelli, Elia Comini, and all the civilians killed that day were also present.
On the Dehonian side, the thanksgiving celebrations will continue in Nembro, the birthplace of Martino Capelli, from November 14 to 16, 2026.
