On Saturday, 13 December 2025, the Calasanctian Family gathered in Florence to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Msgr. Celestino Zini, Sch. P. (1825–1892), Piarist and co-founder — together with Blessed Celestina Donati — of the Institute of the Poor Daughters of Saint Joseph Calasanz (Suore Calasanziane).
The Eucharistic celebration took place in the Church of San Giovannino (Piarist Fathers), a place particularly significant for the history of the Calasanctian beginnings in Florence. The Holy Mass was presided over by Most Rev. Pedro Aguado Cuesta, Sch. P., Bishop of Huesca and Jaca, in an atmosphere of gratitude and fraternal communion. The concelebration also included the Father General of the Pious Schools, Fr. Carles Gil i Saguer, Sch. P., and the Provincial, Fr. Sergio Sereni, Sch. P. The liturgy was coordinated by Fr. Ángel Ayala, and the Mass was attended by around one hundred faithful, among them the boys and girls diligently assisted by the Suore Calasanziane. Several Piarist Fathers and Sisters took part in this jubilee gathering.
During the liturgy, the spiritual and ecclesial value of the legacy of Msgr. Celestino Zini was highlighted: his service as educator and pastor, his capacity for accompaniment and discernment, and his passion for the care of the smallest and most vulnerable. The commemoration of the bicentenary also sought to be a call to renew today the charism received, in creative fidelity to the original intuition of the founders.
At the end of the Eucharist, the participants shared a fraternal meal at the Motherhouse (the Congregation’s headquarters), a moment that fostered closeness between the Calasanctian family and lay people linked to the spirituality of the Congregation. It was also an occasion to recall, in daily and community life, the “family style” that characterises the charism and mission of the Suore Calasanziane.
Afterwards, Msgr. Pedro Aguado gave a lecture dedicated to the figure of the Piarist founder and Archbishop of Siena. With a contemporary outlook, his reflection invited those present to reread the life and ministry of Msgr. Zini as an inspiration for a mission that combines closeness, listening and educational commitment in the service of children and young people, especially the poorest.
The day concluded as a sign of unity and hope: a grateful memory that impels us to continue walking, as a Calasanctian Family, at the service of the Gospel and of education, in the Church and in the world.
