Called to Make Crosses
By Bill Ryan, Sentinel-Tribune Staff Writer
GIBSONBURG —Chances are, if you have “crossed” the path of Tony Picciuto, you likely have received at least one of his handmade crosses. The crosses also get into the hands of thousands of people he has never met.
As of early October, he had made and distributed 10,400 of them. Each one is cut, etched, sanded, stained and coated by hand by this 96-year-old man.
Picciuto keeps a documented account of where his crosses have gone and to whom.
At an average rate of 50 crosses created each week, he will likely cross the 11,000 mark soon.
He said that his crosses have traveled to 23 different countries across the globe and virtually every state in the nation.
Picciuto said he is thankful to his fellow parishioner Alan Williams who runs a sawmill on his farm.
“He furnishes me all the wood for the crosses for free,” Picciuto said. “I couldn’t do this without him.”
Patti Hoffman, pastoral associate for faith formation at St. Michael Parish in Gibsonburg, said Picciuto’s story is worth telling to the world.
“I have said his is a story that should be shared like Charles Kuralt’s ‘On the Road.’ It’s amazing all the details he puts into each one,” Hoffman said.
Picciuto estimated that he invests roughly 20 minutes for each cross. The Tiffin native has lived the last 67 years in Gibsonburg. He is a World War II veteran, having served from 1942-45 in the Asiatic Pacific. He spent 18 months in Guam on an Air Force base while working in the Army in a supply group.
After his discharge he worked at Fremont Rubber and S.E. Hyman clothing factory. He retired in 1988.
Picciuto’s crosses have been given out at nursing homes, hospice facilities and are even placed in a bowl at some funeral homes.
Hoffman noted how a recent First Communion class at the church each received one of his crosses. One girl asked for a second one to give to a classmate who was struggling. After her request other students wanted a second one as well.
They were all given a second cross but with the instructions they could keep one, but the other must be given away to someone else.
“People started taking pictures and the stories they shared of how those crosses touched the lives of so many people were amazing,” she said. “It went viral on the internet. We were blessed with so many stories.”
The crosses went to people who were sick, including a sick grandmother, as well as a teacher who kept it in her desk, and other friends and family.
For three years, Picciuto has included a cross in every Samaritan’s Purse shoebox gift that was sent as part of the organization’s annual effort to benefit children in need across the globe. The church’s shoeboxes went to various places including the Ukraine. They know it reached that country as the church received a thank-you note back noting the importance of the cross which was enclosed.
“When I give them to the students I tell them, ‘Jesus carried his cross for us and I want you to carry them for the Lord,” Hoffman said.
Picciuto does not charge for any of the crosses. They are all given away free.
“They are not for sale,” he stressed.
Picciuto has been a widower for 31 years. After his wife, Martha, passed after 40 years of marriage he started making bird houses.
“I had to find something to do to keep going,” he said.
He made more than 1,000 bird houses, mostly for wrens and bluebirds, but also some butterfly habitats. Though several of those adorn his backyard, he gave most of those away as well. Those houses were also created from scrapped pieces of wood from Williams.
“Making crosses gives Tony a reason to get up in the morning,” Hoffman said. “He shows us that God calls us all and every little thing we do for God works together to make a bigger thing.
“He has a heart for Jesus and this is his way to spread the Gospel. It’s a sharing of our stories that brings Christ to life for others.”
Picciuto said his hobby is more of a calling.
“I love making them, when I’m making crosses the world goes by me and I don’t think of anything else,” he said.