In a world where holiness is often associated with great heroic deeds or lives apart from the daily hustle and bustle, the testimony of Pedro María Arata, known to all as “Pepo”, reminds us that the call to holiness can be lived in an extraordinary way in the most ordinary things.

This young Argentine craftsman, born on the day of Saint Francis de Sales —the patron saint of kindness— and recently passed away on March 5, 2026 at the age of 30 (1996-2026), embodied in a simple and profound way the Ignatian motto that he made his own: “To the greater glory of God” (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam).

Pepo was neither a public figure nor a preacher to the masses. He lived in the northern part of San Isidro, Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he dedicated his life to artisanal crafts: he handcrafted gourd and leather mate gourds, leather yerba mate containers, personalized bombillas (drinking straws), patiently polished knives, and other traditional elements of Argentine mate culture.

His work, visible on profiles like  @ap.artesano on Instagram , reflected not only manual skill, but also a love for beauty and utility, always with a personal and generous touch. Many pieces left his workshop as gifts “just because,” without expecting anything in return, turning each creation into a bridge for human connection.

But what was most admirable about Pepo was how he integrated his Catholic faith into every detail of daily life. For him, the workshop became an oratory, work became praise, and a simple round of mate became communion.

Sitting down with him to share mate was like stepping into another time: he listened with genuine attention, asked about the other person’s life, spoke naturally about the Virgin Mary, the saints, and how God reveals himself in the simple and everyday.

His calloused hands and the sandals he wore were the visible sign of a holiness lived day by day, offering everything — talents, time, listening, hugs — to the greater glory of God.

His untimely passing left a void, but also an inexplicable peace among those who bid him farewell. At the funeral mass, the priest recalled that “God gave us a GOOD friend,” and lifelong friends—even those who hadn’t seen him since adolescence—came to support the Arata family, testifying to how his kindness and his example of a life lived on in God.

People who didn’t even know him personally prayed for him when they read his obituary and were moved to discover the indelible mark he left on the faith of many.

Pepo Arata’s testimony deserves to be known beyond Argentina’s borders. It invites us to ask ourselves: what if holiness lies not in the spectacular, but in transforming the everyday—a job, a conversation, a shared mate—into a loving offering to God and neighbor? Pepo lived that question.

Rest in peace, craftsman of God. May your example continue to unite hearts, hand in hand with Mary, towards eternal glory.