Deacon Felix Azzola’s 20 Year Anniversary as a Deacon

Deacon Azzola was the 7th of 8 children growing up in Northern Italy, near Milan, in a little town called Pradalunga, close to Bergamo.  His native town was very close to the birthplace of Pope John XXIII, and he was able to see Pope John XXIII when he was a Cardinal and Patriarch of Venice.

Active in Parish Life in Italy

As a child, Deacon Azzola was very involved in parish life. He enjoyed Gregorian Chant, prayed the Divine Office in Latin, and was a lead altar server.

Attended PIME Seminary

He attended the PIME Seminary for middle school, high school and college in Italy with thoughts of becoming a priest. He was send to the U.S.A. to study Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum. When he realized he was not called to the Priesthood, he left the Josephinum and enrolled at Ohio Dominican College, now Ohio Dominican University. “I liked it there and I wanted to stay there,” said Deacon Azzola. He continued his studies and received his B.A. from Ohio Dominican University, and later a Masters degree in Classical Languages from The Ohio State University.  At OSU, he also met the woman he would later marry.

Served in the Italian Army and Married in the U.S.

He went back to Italy when his father died in 1972, and because he was back in his own country, he had to serve a year and a half in the Italian military. Afterward, he returned to the U.S. to marry Melanie on October 28, 1972.  Since she was an only child, he did not think he could move her back to Italy. So they married here and were blessed with five children—four boys and one girl.

Taught in Columbus

Deacon Azzola taught in the Columbus Public Schools for 30 years. He also served at Delaware St. Mary School for five years as the first lay Principal. He then went to Hilliard St. Brendan to serve there also as a Principal for six years.

Principal and Active in Delaware St. Mary Parish

In addition to serving as Principal, he has been involved at Delaware St. Mary parish in Youth Ministry, RCIA, and on the Parish Council for several years. “I thought often about the diaconate. I had a desire for active ministry.”

Studied to be a Deacon

He began to take classes for the diaconate in Shelby, Ohio at the Sacred Heart Seminary. He was ordained on August 5th, 1989 by Bishop Griffin on the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.  Deacon Azzola selected this date for ordination because August 5th was also the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in his hometown Parish, where he was first taught a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by his devout parents and the parishioners of that town.  Deacon Azzola realized that his vocation to the diaconate originated there at that Marian Shrine, and he wanted to acknowledge Mary’s action in his vocation.
Deacon Azzola and his family have been at Delaware St. Mary ever since his Ordination.  He teaches Cross-Cultural Communication in the LEAD Program at ODU and he also teaches Italian and Latin at Columbus State Community College.

Active in Many Ministries as a Deacon

His ministries as a deacon over the years “accommodate the pastor’s needs.” This includes preaching at Mass on a monthly basis, presiding at weddings, baptisms, and helping with RCIA and PSR. He also visits the Sick, the Nursing Homes Residents and the Homebound,  and works with married couples on implementing a new marriage preparation program ‘For Better And Forever.’ He is passionate about supporting married couples. “If they get married in the Church, then we should help them stay in the Church. Recognition and encouragement from the Church is very critical for married couples,” said Deacon Azzola.

Grateful for his Wife’s Support

He is very grateful for the support of his wife as a deacon. “The support of the wife is the backbone of the diaconal ministry. Especially when the children are young, the wife holds it all together,” said Deacon Azzola. “My wife willingly sacrificed for me and still does, and it is a huge gift to have that support.”
Deacon Azzola is “grateful” for his 20 years as a deacon. “It is amazing how you are inserted into people’s lives so deeply, with the aspect of the Divine—because we bring God to the people. I am so grateful that God has asked me to help. I see the goodness in people—you see God in the ‘here and now’ of the people and how they are trying to live their lives.”
He laughs when describing how his five children, who all attended Delaware St. Mary Elementary School and Bishop Watterson High School, felt about him being a deacon. “The dads of other children are doctors and lawyers and businessmen, etc., but my children said ‘you are a deacon.’ But they really appreciate this special calling now.”

Enjoys Singing Gregorian Chant

Deacon Azzola enjoys singing, especially Gregorian Chant, and would like to teach hymnology in parishes. He is also looking forward to leading a pilgrimage to Italy in 2010.
Over the past 20 years as a deacon in St. Mary parish, Deacon Azzola has worked with five pastors. “It has been nice to be able to stay in this parish.  I like being one-parish deacon. I am blessed in so many ways. I receive much more than I give from the good people here at St. Mary.”

“I love being a Deacon. The Lord is so good to me!”