One of the founders of the Church of Makeni, Sierra Leone
here was sadness and much emotion shown in Sierra Leone at the news of the death of Fr. Camillo Olivani, Xaverian Missionary, one of the pioneers and founders of the diocese of
Makeni.
Born in the province of Mantova, Italy, Fr. Olivani died on May, 6th, in Parma, at 87 years of age. He was Superior of the Xaverian Minor Seminary in Holliston, Fr Olivani with his "kids". MA in 1958-1961, but, at different stages, he spent the total of almost 40 years in Sierra Leone.
I
think I had enough of being the
masonry missionary, the
nurse missionary, the
teaching missionary. Now,
I would like to be the
priest missionary. I
feel the need, even within my heart, to
work for a more spiritual ministry.
Fr.
Camillo Olivani
There he dedicated himself especially to the lepers and the to the crippled, for whom he had a particular care and provided medical and fatherly assistance; they all affectionately referred to him as "our little holy father."
Bishop George Biguzzi, s,x, of Makeni, remembering that his confrere had first gone to Sierra Leone in 1950, thanked the Lord "for the extraordinary witness of Fr. Olivani whose life and missionary ministry have constantly shown a great love for Africa and its peoples."
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)