Father Pedro D\u00edez Gil was born on April 14, 1913.<\/p>\n
The commemoration of his 110th birthday is more than enough reason to remember his figure as a Piarist teacher and his life of service to the little ones, following the example of St. Joseph Calasanz.<\/p>\n
Pedro’s life journey began in Pampliega (Burgos) and continued in the cities of Tolosa, as a student of the pious schools there, Venta de Ba\u00f1os (Palencia), and later in Zaragoza, Peralta de la Sal, Irache and Albelda de Iregua, places where he spent his formation as a Piarist. He was ordained priest in 1937 and exercised his Piarist ministry in the Colegio de las Escuelas P\u00edas in Zaragoza, where he died in the call of holiness on December 14, 1983.<\/p>\n
The silent dedication to the children of the school, the concern for the Church and his work among the neighbours of the neighbourhood of San Pablo in Zaragoza reflect the most important aspects of his career and his inner adventure: small among the little ones, Father Pedro makes visible the profile of the Piarist teacher that St. Joseph Calasanz wished for: “Stooping down to give light to the children, especially to those who are like the helpless of all”<\/em> (EpCal 1236). His memory is still alive in the great affection that the environment of the Pious School’s of Zaragoza professes for Father Pedro, teacher and witness of the Calasanctian vocation among the generations of students of the Centre. The transparency of his life and the example of his generous dedication in the classroom and in the Church, in the accompaniment of the little ones and in the disinterested service to each person through his Piarist priesthood still resonate in us today.<\/p>\n Celebrating the 110th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Pedro invites all Piarist educators to look back at the beginning of their own vocation: to make the little ones grow “in greatness, wisdom and grace” in the image of Jesus of Nazareth. It also means recognising his effort to make early childhood education a privileged space for personal development by awakening the potentials present in each student, a task in which he was a pioneer along with the Servant of God, Father Joaqu\u00edn Erviti Lazcano Sch.P., companion, brother and dear friend.<\/p>\n In 2023, we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of Father Pedro and the 40th anniversary of his death. The grateful memory of these dates wants to promote the presence of Father Pedro in the Pious Schools in order to have recourse with confidence to his intercession.<\/p>\n