---
title: Association and Foundation Honor Marcello Candia on 110th Birth Anniversary
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/association-and-foundation-honor-marcello-candia-on-110th-birth-anniversary
published: 2026-10-29T15:50:41+00:00
language: en
section: Mission and Aid
source: https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/eglise/news/2026-10/force-du-laicat-missionnaire-bresil-fragiles.html
organizations: Union des médecins missionnaires italiens, Association des laïcs au service des missions, Fondation Marcello Candia
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Association and Foundation Honor Marcello Candia on 110th Birth Anniversary

A recently created cultural association and the Marcello Candia Foundation are honoring the memory of the venerable Marcello Candia on the 110th anniversary of his birth. The association aims to preserve the history, works, and testimony of the Milanese entrepreneur and missionary while promoting values of solidarity and service to the most fragile.

Candia established several charitable and health facilities in Brazil, specifically in the city of Macapá near the Amazon forest. These include the Saint-Camille and Saint-Louis hospital and the Petit Carmel prayer oasis, both opened in the 1960s and 1970s. In the commune of Marituba, he founded a social center and the Notre-Dame de la Paix prayer house, which Pope John Paul II visited in 1980. Candia also worked in abandoned public leper colonies to encourage the creation of social complexes and dermatological centers to restore patient dignity.

The Marcello Candia Foundation, established by Candia in 1982, collects funds to finance these missions in the Amazon. While interest in his memory had faded over recent generations, there has been a recent resurgence. The Carmelite sisters, who were entrusted with patient care at the Petit Carmel, have resumed activities, and the local diocese has increased its involvement with the help of two Italian priests.

Beyond humanitarian work, Candia is credited with developing the concept of the lay missionary. In 1947, he founded the Union of Italian Missionary Doctors in Milan, followed by the creation of the Association of Laypeople in Service of Missions in the early 1950s. These organizations sought to show the church that laypeople, including trained missionary doctors, could be useful to the world.

To mark the anniversary, the association and foundation are collaborating with the municipality and diocese of Milan. A colloquium was held on October 23 at Palazzo Marino. Additionally, the archbishop of Milan will celebrate a memorial mass on October 31. Pope Francis declared Candia venerable in 2014.

## This story in other languages

- [Nederlands](https://www.faithfulnews.com/nl/herdenking-van-de-110ste-geboortedag-van-marcello-candia-en-zijn-missionaire-werk)
- [Русский](https://www.faithfulnews.com/ru/v-brazilii-otmecaiut-110letie-so-dnia-rozdeniia-missionera-marcello-candia)
- [Deutsch](https://www.faithfulnews.com/de/gedenken-an-marcello-candia-und-sein-werk-fur-die-armen-in-brasilien)
- [Español](https://www.faithfulnews.com/es/una-asociacion-y-una-fundacion-honran-la-memoria-del-misionero-laico-marcello-candia)
- [Italiano](https://www.faithfulnews.com/it/celebrazioni-per-il-110esimo-anniversario-della-nascita-di-marcello-candia)
- [Svenska](https://www.faithfulnews.com/sv/kulturell-forening-hedrar-marcello-candias-110-ars-fodelsedag)
- [Norsk](https://www.faithfulnews.com/no/markering-av-110-ars-fodsel-for-marcello-candia-og-hans-misjonsarbeid-i-brasil)