Father Victor Muzzin

Father Victor Muzzin was born in Venice Italy on November 18, 1945. At twenty, he entered training for the priesthood in Liverpool, England. He was ordained on May 27, 1972, and sent to Dublin, Ireland to start an order. He is a graduate of the University College of Dublin (Psychology)and was made an honorary citizen of Ireland due to his work with the homeless. In 1990 he was posted to New York City to become the pastor of Saint Ann’s Parish on 110th Street. He became pastor of Saint Francis de Sales in 2004.

The FDP after Fr. Victor’s name means Filius Divinae Providentiae. This Order, headquartered in Rome, was founded by St. Luigi Orione (1872-1940) and numbers about 1000 priests and 1000 nuns who run works of charity, worldwide. In the United States, the FDP runs a Shrine to Mary Queen of the Universe and a large Home for the aged in Boston. The order runs two parishes in New York City, St. Ann’s and St. Francis de Sales.

Luigi Orione was a dynamic, holy priest, on the style of Mother Theresa of Calcutta. He was a pupil of St. John Bosco and was present at his death, when the saint healed miraculously his thumb, severed in the rush of cutting holy bread for the pilgrims. He wanted his priests to live a life of simplicity and poverty and solidarity with the poor. Pope Pius X appointed him Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Messina for 3 years, to help it recover from a devastating earthquake. He traveled to Argentina to establish the Order in Latin America. He had a great love for the Pope.

Pope John Paul canonized St. Luigi Orione on May 16, 2004. His Feast day is May 16. His last two words were “ Jesus, Jesus…”.

Pope Benedict mentions our Founder in his Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (“God is Love”): “The figures of saints such as Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, John of God, Camillus of Lellis, Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, Giuseppe B. Cottolengo, John Bosco, Luigi Orione, Teresa of Calcutta to name but a few—stand out as lasting models of social charity for all people of good will. The saints are the true bearers of light within history, for they are men and women of faith, hope and love.”