e
share the sorrow of all the Xaverian Missionaries, especially those in Burundi,
and of the families of Fr. Ottorino Maule, Fr. Aldo Marchiol, and of the lay
volunteer, Caterina Gubert. We join
the Church and the people of Burundi, asking the Lord that this sacrifice may
contribute to bring peace in Central Africa.”
On October 1, 1995, the Father General of the Xaverian Missionaries, with these words communicated to the confreres and friends the news of the three missionaries killed, execution-style, within the walls of the parish house at the Catholic Mission of Buyengero the day before.
The
three and several other Xaverians for many years had been working in Burundi to
help alleviate the suffering, seek to sow hope, say that it is yet possible to
be reconciled, to forgive, and to live together.
Their primary reason, however, for being in Burundi was to “help give
courage to and to be a witness before the local Church” which seemed to remain
uneasily silent before the genocide brought about by the ruling party.
“What saddens me most,” had written Fr. Aldo, “is not so much that
the Church is being persecuted, but that we accept silently such a state of
things. To be silent at this moment
is suicidal on the part of the Church.” Fr.
Aldo, known to be a man of few words, but capable of great gestures, has been
faithful to his vocation, to the gift of himself for Burundi and its people.
Fr.
Ottorino, by contrast a man of enthusiasm, always preferred to underline the
good in his daily experience of solidarity and Samaritan charity.
The
episode of their sacrificial death was the bitter fruit of the climate of
violence which had arisen following the coup of October 21, 1993.
Since then it has caused a countless number of innocent victims, among
them local catechists, priests and religious.
Given that climate, the “three martyrs” had been aware of the
possibility of what came to be, and they had chosen to take the risk in order to
remain with their people. To a
young boy who, petrified by the frightful happenings, had asked apprehensively
“Is it true that you are going away?” Fr. Ottorino had matter-of-factly
answered “We have decided to remain with you!”
This they did… They had
even asked, “should something happen,” that they be buried on their mission
grounds. There they now rest, right
beside their parish church, near the people they loved… to the end!
At the Mass of the Resurrection, seven days after their death, Maria Assunta,
mother of Fr. Ottorino, whispered to one of the concelebrants, “Tell Father
General to send new missionaries to take the place of my son, Ottorino.”
If the example of Fr. Aldo, Fr. Ottorino, and of Caterina were not enough, there will remain always, startlingly pungent, the request of mother Maria Assunta.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)