Bruno Podesta

Deacon Bruno Podesta
March 27, 1928 - June 14, 2014
After over 55 years of service to the Lord, Deacon Bruno Podesta passed away peacefully at the age of 86 surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his beloved wife Nina, loving father of Anna (Tony), Paul (Paula), Laura (Sylvain), Michael and Teresa (Ettore) and devoted grandfather to Peter, Katrina, Nicholas, David, Mathieu, Anna-Lise, Sarah and Matthew. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his family and friends and the many, many people he served during his ministry.
In 1956, after having a conversion experience, Bruno dedicated his life to service to God through various ministries in the Catholic Church. After years of lay service, he was called to become a deacon when the Catholic Church reinstated this ministry in 1972. Bruno was a member of the ordination class of deacons in 1978. For 36 years, he was a committed and active minister to the people of All Saints Catholic Church and a spiritual leader to many Italians living in the greater Toronto. Bruno led weekly prayer groups, visited the sick, provided spiritual counselling at all hours of the day or night, and organized pilgrimages to the holy land, local shrines, and charismatic events. He was a strong promoter of the Divine Mercy, and encouraged devotions to Mary and Joseph. He wrote articles for religious newspapers and magazines and published a monthly booklet in Italian that inspired thousands of Italian faithful.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19th at All Saints Church at 1415 Royal York Rd., 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. Mass will be celebrated at All Saints Church, on Friday, June 20th at 9:30 am. Entombment to follow at Park Lawn Cemetery, 2845 Bloor St. W. Friends and family are asked to join in a celebration at The Old Mill Restaurant, 21 Old Mill Road, following the entombment. As expression of sympathy Memorial donations to Share Life (www.sharelife.org) would be greatly appreciated by the family. If preferred, you may send floral donations to the Ward Funeral Home, 2035 Weston Road.