There
is more Joy in GivingThere
is more Joy in Giving
(from Xaverian Mission News)
t
is normal for a missionary to give. Ours
is a giving vocation, starting from one’s life, our talents, our time,
spiritual and material goods. People
are aware of it and if we don’t give, they are surprised.
Though I am not one of the very first pioneers of our missionary life in
Sierra Leone, I consider myself a good second, having spent about 35 years in
the field.
What I have given, I cannot tell; for certain it is more what I received in terms of full realization of my talents in pastoral work, teaching experience, in ever vast fields of action and expansion, with all needed assistance rather than hindrance by anyone. Not least human and spiritual friendship.
There, however, one aspect of my missionary experience of which I am particularly happy. That is to notice that practically all the parishes, in which I have worked, have been passed, in due time, into the hands of local clergy. It is the church policy, all over the Missions that once a parish is developed enough, it is to be passed onto native clergy, while we expatriates move on towards new places of evangelization.
In 1958, Bishop Azzolini assigned me as parish priest to Port Loko, a parish started by Fr. Olivani and then abandoned for some months to open new centers. My first job was to clear the site from all kinds of wild herbs, plants and animals. No wonder it was nicknamed the derelict. I remained there only one year and a half, and God really showered every blessing on us. Preparing for the visit of Queen Elisabeth, with her airplane to land near the mission compound, the chapel house was renewed, a primary and secondary school (the best buildings in town) were put up with the help of Mr. Marinoni who lodged in my house. Plans and developments were foreseen, to be realized later by the genius of Fr. Milan and the vitality of Fr. Victor. Today, Port Loko is one of our most flourishing parishes in the hands of local clergy for some years.
One aspect of my missionary experience of which I am particularly happy is that all the parishes, in which I have worked, have been passed, in due time, into the hands of local clergy. It is the church policy, all over the Missions that once a parish is developed enough, it is to be passed onto native clergy, while we expatriates move on towards new places of evangelization.
In January 1960 I moved to Makeni to remain there practically till now. I spent 3 years as boarding master, chaplain and teacher at St. Francis secondary school, the only secondary school at Makeni. All public activities, including the celebrations of the independence in 1961, fell on us. From those students came several people who will count in the nation.
At the end of 1962 I left Sierra Leone for four years work in Scotland and three in Italy. In 1970, I was back in Makeni as parish priest of the cathedral, the only parish then in town with many schools at all levels, social and health activities. In the 80’s the cathedral was handed over to a local priest with the proud title of Administrator.
In 1983, I started a new parish in Makeni, St. Francis Xavier, with a beautiful building due mainly to the expertise of Fr. Frigo and his team of workers. It was often referred to as the most functional church in the whole of Sierra Leone. In the 90’s, it also passed into the hands of local priests assisted by an experienced and active parish pastoral council.
In 1993 I was sent
to Lungi for three years, just to witness the expanding life of the parish in
the new hands of the Salesians.
In 1996, Bishop Biguzzi called me back to Makeni for further pastoral development in Makeni town. Work was started in two sites already spotted and secured years before. Bishop Biguzzi added new grounds to both places and work continued gradually but steadily till two more parishes were established in Makeni and handed over respectively to the Josephite Fathers and to the diocese.
In both places there had been two small Christian communities, mainly managed by catechists and lay people, now with the continuous presence of the priest, more people kept joining, the sacraments were administered and the Word of God was seen as the essential foundation of any good society. In this way activities of a social or humanitarian character will not lack solidity. Eventually basic Christian communities would be organized in a parish, to avoid possible unhealthy or sectarian deviations.
The wars and ravages of these last months did not allow further development as hoped. It is consoling, however, to see that practically all the buildings of the various parishes mentioned above were spared by the fury of the invasions. It was good policy, mainly on the advice of the Bishop, to work in humble and temporary structures these last two years, foreseeing what might happen in the not distant future.
Of all, rather than proud, I feel grateful to God, to the Bishops and to all those who have cooperated to follow the signs of the times and the ways of God’s Providence. If it is God’s will, I feel and keep ready to add a new page to God’s work. I have met friends who have shown me sympathy for hard work done, and then passed on into the hands of others.
My answer is ever ready: This is growth in the right direction. We came to prepare the ground for others. Some will surely do better than what was done before.
(From Xaverian Mission News)