he Xaverian community morns the death of three beloved missionaries during the Lenten season of 2007. It is the mystery of death, the
via crucis, the way of the cross, that becomes real every time we are confronted with the passing away of a loved one, whether in our families, friends, or religious congregations.
Fr. Angelo Geremia died on March 3, at the Motherhouse in Parma, Italy, after a long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old. He came to know the Xaverians at the age of 11, and professed religious missionary vows in 1956. He was ordained priest on Oct. 25 1964, and served in the capacity of training young students to the missionary life.
At the age of 54, Fr. Angelo left everything that he had known, packed his bags, and started a new adventure of mission service in Indonesia. Actually, because of the delay of the entry Visa, Fr. Angelo decided to go to Brazil, but after a 2 year waiting period, the Indonesian government released his Visa. “It was a traumatic and grace-filled experience: – Fr. Geremia recalled – First I waited for a long time in Italy, then I had started learning Portuguese in Brazil, and after a month being there, the Indonesian Visa came. It was the first Visa issued to a Xaverian missionary in over 4 years, and therefore I could not miss this chance.”
From Feb. 1984 to the day of his death, practically, Fr. Angelo served as a missionary in Indonesia, accompanying many young students in their discernment to religious missionary life, serving as Leader of that Xaverian community, and adventuring in pastoral activities in this predominantly Muslim nation.
Fr. Rubianto, one of these young Indonesian students, remarked: “He was a good soul, with a gentle touch, a listening ear, a loving heart, ever ready to work with everyone.”
During Holy Week, God called another beloved missionary in the midst of the Amazon forest, Brazil. It is
Fr. Cordani who died of a heart attack at the Divine Mercy Hospital of Marituba (Belem) at the age of 78. He came to know the Xaverians when he was 20 years old, professed religious mission vows in 1955, and was ordained priest at the age of 33.
Fr. Cordani worked in Brazil most of his life, both in Southern Brazil, and when the Xaverians accepted to start a mission service in Northern Brazil, he was one of the first to answer the call. He established lively Christian communities, built churches, encouraged young people to deepen their faith in Christ, attended many small Christian communities and Bible sharings, helped to relieve the pain of many who sought his advise and council.
And on Holy Thursday, April 5 2007, the news of the sudden departure of Fr. Ivaldo Casula spread through the emails of the Xaverians. He was only 63 years old, born at Cagliari, Sardenia, in 1943. He was overtaken by a severe viral infection, and died at the Hospital of Makeni, Sierra Leone.
At the age of 19, Fr. Ivaldo professed religious missionary vows in the Xaverian congregation, and was ordained priest in 1970, when he was 27 years old, with great celebrations in his native place of Guasila, Cagliari.
Fr. Ivaldo worked mainly in mission education and training of young people who are discerning a missionary life with the Xaverians. He served in this capacity in Coatbridge, Scotland, in London, Great Britain, in Chicago, in Makeni, Sierra Leone, and in Brescia, Italy.
“I had the privilege to live with both Fr. Geremia and Fr. Ivaldo – recalls a
Xaverian who met them during his training – and they impressed me much for their serenity in accompanying us through the formation years. Though coming from two different parts of Italy, they transmitted to us a serenity in life, a zest for the mission cause, a love of the Lord Jesus, and a great compassion for all they met in ministry.”
Fr. Ivaldo had returned to Sierra Leone in 2005 to help rebuild the presence of the Xaverians after the terrible 10-year war that this country had experienced in the recent past, and was assistant to the newly formed Fatima University in Makeni.
“Therefore, willing to serve the Lord in his call, with much enthusiasm I place
at His service all my life long,
ready to make him known to many people who still do not believe in Him.” (from the Profession Request of Fr. Angelo Geremia, in 1955). May they rest in Peace.
(by Fr. Alfredo Turco - From Xaverian News)