Fr. Santo Cigolini was born on May 16, 1929, in Nova Brescia, in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul. He entered the Pious Society of the Missionaries of St. Charles/Scalabrinians and on February 11, 1952, he made his First Religious Profession. After his priestly ordination, on December 8, 1958, his first assignment was in Argentina. In 1965 we find him in Rome for a year of “aggiornamento”, an update program of study and conferences. In that period, he and his companion priests, had an audience with, then Pope, Paul VI, and Fr. Santo was always proud of the picture taken in that occasion.

After 1965 he came to North America where he would spend the rest of his priestly life. Assigned first to Buffalo, New York, he served seven years as associate at St. Anthony’s Church. For the next 5 years, he was in Boston and Providence, RI.

The next important step in Fr. Santo’s life, was in 1977 when he was assigned as Pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Toronto to serve the diverse community of English, Italian and Portuguese parishioners. For the next 35 years, with a brief intermission in the USA, Fr. Santo will exercise his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Toronto in the two parishes of St. Anthony, 1041 Bloor Street and St. Matthew, 706 Old Weston Rd.

Fr. Santo Cigolini was a humble priest, always close to his parishioners with a special attention to newcomers. He always supported and promoted the popular religiosity of his people: the processions of Our Lady under various titles, St. Antony’s procession, the colorful Portuguese festivities in honor of the Holy Spirit. He even accompanied a number of his parishioners in a “Romaria”, a week-long walking pilgrimage in the island of San Miguel, Azores, Portugal.

The life of Fr. Santo Cigolini, c.s. can be express in the words spoken by Bishop Scalabrini on entering a parish for his pastoral visitation:

I am here to make myself all things to all people
“I have come here to bring you peace,
to bless your families, your work,
your fields, and the graves of your beloved departed.
I am here to become all things to all:
to speak to the adults
with a heart brimming with fatherly love,
to call down the Holy Spirit
upon the Confirmation children,
to console the afflicted,
and to promote the glory of God
and the salvation of souls in every possible way”


Visitation to be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 2340 Hurontario St., Mississauga, on Monday, May 19, 2025 from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 2340 Hurontario St., Mississauga, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, 8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Scalabrinian Community of Ontario.