“This year’s Golden Johns were awarded to figures who have linked their lives to volunteering, following the example of our two co-patrons: San Gerardo, who taught giving of oneself to others, and San Giovanni Battista, who today we celebrate, heralding a perspective, of something great that is to come.” The mayor of Monza Paolo Pilotto summed up with effective words the underlying motivation for the 4 awards of this year’s Golden Giovannino and the Corona Ferrea prize, respectively to 4 city figures and to an association which in giving to others and in becoming bearers of hope have oriented their work in the community. The maximum citizen merit, like every 24 June, saw the award ceremony under the porticoes of the Arengario, immediately after the 10.30 am mass. Two Giovannini d’oro in memory were awarded to Gianni Pelli and Fulvia Antonia Tiziani, while another two directly in the hands of Monsignor Silvano Provasi and Alessandro Colombo. The Corona Ferrea award instead went to Abio Brianza.
Gianni Pelli distinguished himself as an “active citizen first through political commitment – we read in the motivation – and then as a volunteer in the group of voluntary ecological guards, of which he was coordinator until 2023. (…) Constant presence in the Park of Monza, stood out for his daily dedication to his city, which he also wanted to serve as a “civic grandfather”. His son Ettore accepted the award: “I sincerely thank the GEV who proposed my father’s name. Today he would be surprised by this recognition, because for him everything he did was normal and natural”. The other one honored in memory, Fulvia Antonia Tiziani, has always been “committed in the parish of Sant’Ambrogio in favor of children and young people”, “in the association “Ti do una Mano onlus“, welcoming on several occasions young people who were victims of Chernobyl disaster”, and in 2019 “she founded with her husband the association “Mani di Pace” which follows various projects in Turkey and Syria”, whose war refugees she has always helped with reception and support activities since 2013 “Our house is a “sea port” – the husband commented emotionally -. Until the last few days she gave her all to this cause, which we will now continue”. Also spending his life for good causes is Alessandro Colombo, for thirty years “animator adored by young people in the oratories of San Gerardo and Cederna” and educator-volunteer “with San Vincenzo De’ Paoli and with the Preziosine in the Day elderly center Hospital”, as well as a skilled musician with his “Compagnia della Blandoria”, with which he held countless charity concerts. “I consider him a golden little John of the family – he said on stage -. Friends have collected 600 signatures to propose me. The most beautiful thing about the oratory is to give and give of yourself, and the boys I have met are like children for me. With emotion I also think back to my 16 years of volunteering at the orphanage in Kenya. I owe this award to my mother, a teacher and trainer, and to my father, an artist.”
The last person to be honored was Monsignor Silvano Provasi. Archpriest of Monza since 2007 – a position he will leave on 1 September – this year he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Always calm and sober, he “showed particular attention to young people”. “Thanks also to his patient work – ends the motivation – after six years of work, the façade of the Cathedral of Monza has once again become the wonder that everyone can admire today”. His comment is a sign of humility: “Arriving in Monza in 2000, I have always accompanied the sense of inadequacy with the strength of responsibility. The sense of inadequacy, if well managed, can work miracles”.
