Guido Novella was born on 22 January 1943 in Marano Vicentino. He made his novitiate in Albaré, and professed his first vows on 16 August 1964, his perpetual vows on 7 September 1971 and was ordained a priest on 20 April 1974 in his hometown.
He was an important point of reference for catechetical and liturgical activities and above all for having kept missionary sensitivity alive, for Brazil in particular. He was the Rector of numerous Salesian houses (Rovereto, Verona-Provolo, Bardolino, the INE Provincial House in Mestre, Venice and in Santa Croce Verona, and was community economer and Parish Priest In the San Zeno Province of Western Veneto (IVO), Verona and then in the San Marco Province of Northeastern Italy (INE).
As Vice-Provincial of IVO Province in the three-year period 1994-97, in the early 2000s he also took up various positions in INE Province as Delegate for Formation, for the Salesian Family and various groups related to it or associated with it (Past Pupils, Salesian Cooperators, Association of Mary Help of Christians and the "Mamma Margherita" Association).
Three years ago he was called by his superiors to be parish priest at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Rome, at the Salesian Headquarters and, despite the difficulties that soon arose with the pandemic, he fitted in very well and established many personal relationships at all levels, for which he was highly respected and loved. In January last year he also led the parish on a beautiful adventure of daily live broadcasts, trice daily, of Masses from the Basilica – an experience which he was very satisfied with because, in addition to it being a valuable service to the faithful throughout Italy, it was a fine witnesses of Salesian spirituality to millions of people.
For many years he was also the official "liturgist" at every significant Salesian event (national conferences, Salesian Youth Movement meetings, Salesian Family events). He was highly appreciated for his ability to evoke, make symbols speak, and offer language appreciated by young people through poetry, music, silence, and capable of "moving" the assembly in this way. On the other hand, his publications with the Salesian Elledici Publisher (including "Celebrating with things. 24 models of celebrations" still on the market) were especially significant examples of celebratory experiences starting from new or renewed symbols: from the traditional and irreplaceable ones of the liturgy – bread, wine, water...– to others which he added like the mirror, seed, stone, pitcher.. and also used as a means of reflection and dialogue between God and human beings.
Fr Novella will also be remembered for his commitment to pre-adolescents, with the same concern to find ways to offer them words of life, beginning with the tradition of the Church: see, for example, his book: “I salmi, preghiera per i ragazzi” (The Psalms, prayer for children). A text that "translates" 58 psalms into the language of children's lives, accompanying each text with an introductory reflection and a final prayer.
Struck down some two years ago by an aggressive tumour, Fr Novella continued his mission to the end with determination and dedication, also continuing to organise and lead pilgrimages to the Holy Land and in the footsteps of St Paul.
