don Gaudenzio Cabalà 

I am Don Gaudenzio Cabalà, and I was born in Gravellona Toce on January 22nd, 1890. I became a priest in 1916 and later a chaplain. I served as a military chaplain during the First World War. After the war, I moved to Domodossola, where I worked as a religion teacher in vocational schools and as a chaplain at San Biagio Hospital. There, I met a great doctor, a great man with profound ideas of freedom: Professor Ettore Tibaldi. After the armistice of September 8th, 1943, and the German occupation, I decided to join the Ossola anti-fascist committee led by him. I managed to help Jews and former Allied prisoners escape to safety in Switzerland. I also maintained communication between the anti-fascists and the partisans. Unfortunately, in June 1944, the Nazi-fascists discovered my activities, and I was forced to flee to Switzerland myself. However, in September 1944, after the liberation of Ossola by the partisans, I became a member of the Provisional Government Council, again led by Tibaldi. I replaced Don Luigi Zoppetti as Commissioner for Education, Health, Worship, and Charity. After the Nazi-fascists regained control, I returned to exile in Switzerland. Once the war was over, I came back to Italy and resumed my duties at San Biagio Hospital, collaborating with the social services of the Municipality of Domodossola. I passed away in 1961. I helped others in the name of God and in the name of freedom!