Father Joseph Scanagatta, S.D.B., (1919-2005), https://db.archiviosalesiano.net/files/original/15851/SCANAGATTA_Giuseppe.pdf, accessed 12 September 2026:

Father Joseph Scanagatta was born on December 7, 1919 at Schiavon, Province of Vicenza, Italy. His parents were Silvio Scanagatta and Lucia Squarzon. He was baptized and confirmed in the parish of Schiavon. After his early years of schooling in his home town, he attended high school in the diocesan college of Bassano del Grappa. Passing with success, he was admitted to the Manfredini Salesian School in Este. Here he expressed the desire to enter the Salesian Novitiate, also in Este, in 1936. This period of training ended with his first profession, August 21, 1937. He then spent two years (1937-39) doing college studies, majoring in philosophy at Cowley-Oxford, England, while also learning the English language. Returning to Italy, he began his teaching internship at the Salesian Center Rebaudengo, Turin and the Cardinal Cagliero Salesian Institute in Ivrea 1939-42. Due to the outbreak of World War II the studentate of theology was moved to Bollengo, Turin, where Joseph pursued his theological studies, 1942-1947. He was ordained a priest at Casale Monferrato on June 29, 1947 by Bishop Joseph Angrisani.

After his ordination, Fr. Joseph taught at the Pius V Missionary Institute, Penango and the Salesian School Edoardo Agnelli, Turin, 1947-1949. While at Agnelli he met Fr. Eneas Tozzi, Provincial of the San Francisco Province, who was in Italy seeking Salesian personnel for the San Francisco, California, Province. Fr. Joseph accepted his invitation to join the San Francisco Province. Fr. Joseph's first teaching assignment in California was at St. John Bosco School, Bellflower 1949-1950. He moved to SS. Peter and Paul Parish 1950-1951 before joining the staff of the school of theology at Salesian College, Aptos for 1951-1952. His teaching career continued with two years at Boys' Town, Engadine, Australia, 1952-54. The Australian Salesians at this time were members of the San Francisco Province.

His Parish Work
Returning to North America in 1954, he began what would turn out to be thirty-five years of parochial apostolate at Sacred Heart parish, Vancouver, BC, (2 years), St. Dominic Savio and St. John Bosco Parish, Edmonton, Canada; (2) SS. Peter and Paul, San Francisco, (15); Corpus Christi, San Francisco, (5); St. Dominic Savio, Bellflower, (4); St. Patrick's, Los Angeles (2) St. Raphael, San Rafael,(3) and St. Bartholomew, San Mateo (2).

He was readily available for ministry in these various parochial assignments. As he was periodically changed from one parish to another he was recognized by the people who he was leaving as an interesting preacher: (These two comments in letters from St. Dominic Savio Church Edmonton, on his being transferred.) "For the first time in my life I enjoyed sermons. They were always interesting, even the children listen, which is almost nil in a lot of churches." "He was always at the rectory if we needed him for something (spiritual advice). If we were in the dumps he cheered us up."

"We are among the many friends of Fr. Joseph who are deeply saddened by his transfer to Canada from SS. Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco. This priest has done more for SS. Peter and Paul Church than you will ever know. He was a priest that was always there when we needed him. His presence was especially beneficial for those of us younger Italians who sometimes feel a little forgotten at SS. Peter and Paul."

In his later years when he moved around the City Fr. Joseph often met former parishioners who greeted him with joy, recalling that he had blessed their marriage, baptized their children and was a great spiritual force in their lives. He touched many souls during his thirty five years of parochial ministry.

The Declining Years
In March, 1990, Fr. Joseph retired to the Provincial Residence in San Francisco. During the first years his health was strong. He moved around with vigor, played tennis almost daily at Lafayette Park, eight hilly blocks from the Residence. He walked to and from the court. For several years he said Saturday morning Mass for the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa's group) at St. Paul's Convent on 29th Street here in San Francisco. He drove himself back and forth to the convent.

Fr. Mario Mich recalls these days: "In the early '90s when I was the Director of the Salesian Provincial Residence, we used to play tennis. The battles that we had on the tennis court (he always won) are still vivid in my mind. Pity, I too had to give up tennis a few years later on account of my Parkinson's. Already then I could detect that his memory was declining. I remember that at table he could not follow the conversation that was going on. Often out of the blue he would come up with a topic completely out of context. I never saw him react to a joke or at a funny story. He would often browse in the library, but would never have the patience needed to read a book. I think his mind was too tired to absorb anything. If anybody engaged him in an argument, one had to give up because he held on to his point of view. I think that he felt he had enough knowledge and there was nothing that would interest him or change him.

"Another thing of note: since we lived right below the Cathedral of San Francisco, I would see him go up to the church for an extra mass and listen to the homily and then talk about it in praise or criticism.

"He was very meticulous. We would find him forever picking up specks or tiny pieces of something from the floor which caught his eagle eyes and he would spend hours sweeping the parking lot of the residence.

"He gave us all an example of poverty: always neatly dressed, he would proudly point out that 'this sweater was a throw-away ... this pair of shoes I found in the garbage. I just cleaned them up and now they look like new.' He lived simply. How many times we would find him in the kitchen munching on cold food found in the refrigerator to satisfy his hunger. He did not know how to warm it up. All of us remember how in his little homilies he always would end with: 'we must try to go to heaven.' "

As time passed by his energy began diminishing. He was not able to say Mass for the Sisters on Saturday. His memory began fading. He became more forgetful, until it was felt that he would leave the residence for a walk and would get lost and not know how to get back home. So in April 2003 he entered the assisted living facility at Salem House in Oakland.

During his two years at Salem House and Mercy Center he was lovingly looked after by the Sisters of Mercy and their staff. Frs. Larry Lorenzoni and Tom Prendiville were his most frequent visitors as they came to visit Frs. Roger Luna and Gabriel Zavattaro who were also at Mercy Center. Fr. Joseph went to his heavenly reward in the early hours of the morning on May 9, 2005.

The Mass of the Resurrection for Fr. Joseph was celebrated Friday at 12:00 noon, May 13, 2005 at SS. Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco. Christian Burial followed at the Salesian Cemetery, Richmond, California. There he lies with so many of his confreres waiting for the final resurrection.

Fr. Larry Lorenzoni happened to be traveling in Italy when Fr. Scanagatta died. We received the following communication from Fr. Larry a few days after Father Joseph's funeral:

"The family of Fr. Joseph Scanagatta, unable to come to California for his funeral, scheduled a special Memorial Mass for him in the parish church of his baptism in Schiavon, Vicenza, for Monday, May 16, 2005.

"His sister Giuditta Scanagatta asked if I could come to the memorial Mass, with Don Bruno, the pastor, as main celebrant. The entire Scanagatta family was there, with many friends who came to honor Fr. Joseph. While we were vesting in the sacristy, our little altar server, 9 year old Lucia, daughter of Silvio Scanagatta, Fr. Joseph's nephew, came over to ask if she could go to the microphone during the prayer of the faithful and say a little prayer she had scribbled on a piece of paper. Fr. Bruno said 'Yes. Of course.' When the time came, this is what she said in Italian:

"'Dear Jesus, my uncle Don Pino is coming to your home now. I did not know him very well because he lived in America, but mom and dad told me that he always wore a smile, that he loved everyone, and that simple little things made him happy. Dear Jesus, take into your arms my uncle Don Pino, who loved you so much, and tell him that we will continue to love him very much.'"