BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD FATHER JOSÉ ZILLI OFM

 Father José Zilli was born on May 7, 1924, Gemona del Friuli, Udine, Italy. His parents were Santiago Zilli, a humble bricklayer, and Gina Gurisatti, a simple maid. Since he was a child, he did adult duties to help his family. José had a simple attitude towards life as well as the principles of poverty and humility that would accompany him throughout his life. After finishing primary school, he enrolled in the art school, and when he graduated, he worked as a draftsman in a construction company.

In 1942, the 18-year-old man entered the Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Gemona. He completed his novitiate in San Pancracio di Barbarano. José completed his studies to become a priest in Verona, Monselice and Vittorio Veneto. On May 15, 1947, he became a "Friar forever" with the name of Brother Vitaliano María. He was ordained a priest on June 22, 1952, in Motta di Livenza. Shortly after his ordination, Father Zilli was in San Leonardo di Cutro, Calabria. In 1953, he asked his superiors to go on mission, and they chose for him Argentina.

Father José Zilli arrived to Buenos Aires together with other companions on July, 1953. Then, he was a missionary in Monte Quemado, Tintina, Pampa de los Guanacos and Urutaú (Santiago del Estero).

Between 1954-1976, he carried out his missionary work in Ingeniero Jacobacci and in the villages of Línea del Sur, Río Negro. In 1976, he was informed that he could not return to Argentina and got a letter of Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero inviting to El Salvador. Father José Zilli stayed in Ozatlán for a year. He came back to Argentina, and between 1977-80, he was the parish priest of Trevelín, and for a year he was the chaplain of the Esquel's prision. Father José Zilli was also in charge of the parish Nuestra Señora del Valle in Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut. In 1981, he arrived in the diocese of Venado Tuerto, and he assumed the pastorale care of the parish Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Diego de Alveaf for 19 years.

In 2000, Father José Zilli came back to Italy, but a year later, with the permission of his supervisors, he returned to Argentina to be the chaplain of the Philosophy Seminar of New Homes in Aarón Castellanos, Santa Fe. His apostolate spread to various villages such as San Gregorio, Rufino, Amenábar, Lazzarino, all of them in the province of Santa Fe.; Laboulaye, Córdoba; Vedia, Germania, Iriarte, Ameghino and Villa Saboya in Buenos Aires. At the age of 83, Father Zilli's last work was to restore and abandoned chapel of the local cementery of Aaron Castellanos, and he dedicated in to the Blessed Mother María del Transito Cabanillas. Father José died peacefully in the Lord on January 31, 2008. His remains rest there, and continue to bear witness to his Franciscan and Apostle life.