In Pace Christi

The African "baptism" of Fr. Bono was dramatic. There was a big celebration at Mboro, southern Sudan, in that November of 1946. Besides the Feast of All Saints, the mission was marking a unique occasion - and joyfully seeing it as the first of many: the first Mass of Fr. Arcangelo Ali, first priest of the Ndogo tribe (and a future martyr).

Fr. Lorenzo, just arrived from Italy, took it all in with wonder. But suddenly, in the evening - at 7 pm it was already dark in those parts - the door of the little dining room flew open, and a renegade Christian rushed in and attacked the superior, Fr. Angelo Arpe, with a spear, thrusting it into him twice and wounding him fatally.

"Run, run, you'll all be killed!" cried the poor priest with his last breath, as he fell.

Fr. Bono was stabbed just below the shoulder as he turned. The blade actually slid between his arm and his ribs, slashing him on both sides. He slipped and fell under the table, bleeding profusely, while Bro. Guadagnini struggled with the attacker, trying to immobilise him. The catechist Placido Wako (father of the present Archbishop of Khartoum) rushed in, snatched up the assassin's own spear and gave him a fatal thrust. Fr Bono was taken over to the sisters to have his wounds bound uP.

Thus he began his missionary life in Africa. Undaunted, he would continue for 50 years.

From the seminary to the missions

The last of 8 children (of whom three died in infancy), Lorenzo came from a family of workers on the land, share-croppers on the property of the Hospice of St Joseph for the Chronically Sick, near the "Ciabot" farm at Caraglio.

His father was Pietro and his mother Maddalena Armitano. The family was just adequate as regards income, but outstanding in the religious field. One sister, Cristina, had already entered a convent; she died of cancer at the age of 37. The others all died before Fr Lorenzo: Giacomo was killed in the Great War, one day before the armistice between Italy and Austria; Luigi and Costanzo died in 1959 and 1964 respectively; Giuseppe was killed in a road accident in 1974.

Lorenzo entered the diocesan seminary straight after primary school; he had always wanted to be a priest.

His superior wrote that he was "a good seminarian, always with his mind on the priesthood, pious and studious".

He was already in the second year of theology before the idea of the missions crossed his mind. But circumstances brought the matter up decisively. The superiors appointed him delegate of the missionary group in the seminary. At first he wanted to refuse, but his spiritual director urged him to take it on. One of his tasks was to prepare little talks, to deliver to his classmates and to other classes in the seminary. His favourite theme was: "The harvest is great, but the labourers are few!"

It all led him to examine his vocation very carefully, and it became increasingly clear and definite. On the other hand, his father was already 73, and Lorenzo felt afraid of leaving him. His attachment to the rest of the family and his home area was also very strong.

"Is my vocation real, or a temptation?" he wrote. "Health-wise I will manage. But will I be able to learn the languages? On the one hand I can see my father, who will certainly feel it greatly if I go, and on the other there is Jesus, who calls me to go to save Africans."

A novena to Bishop Comboni

In the midst of his agonising, Lorenzo made a novena to Bishop Comboni, along with penances and good works. Meantime, he organised little collections "for the baptism of African children. We have already managed to have six baptised. We would like to do more, but our pockets are always empty".

At the end of the novena the decision came, and with it serenity.

Lorenzo entered the seminary at Venegono Superiore with the best wishes of his Vice-rector and Bishop, his father's blessing and very good marks at the end of his second year of Theology. It was 24 August 1938.

The Novice Master, Fr. Antonio Todesco, noted that Lorenzo had a hard time settling in as far as the new rules were concerned, but that he quickly grasped the importance of the spiritual work ahead of him, and set to with generosity and good results.

In character he was still a cheerful lad, simple, open and adaptable, and also a bit impressionable. He had some sickness to contend with, too: an inflammation of the kidneys and an attack of paratyphoid fever. He recovered from both with no lasting effects.

A three-dispensation priest

Since the superiors thought he was well-prepared, even though he himself felt quite unworthy, they decided to bring forward the date of ordination.

A dispensation was requested from the S.C. of Propaganda Fide, and the ordination was scheduled, even though he had finished only three years of Theology, had not yet made his Perpetual Vows, and was still two months short of the canonical age.

He was ordained at Cuneo in the chapel of the diocesan seminary, by Bishop Giacomo Rosso, who had given his blessing for his departure two years previously. It was 29 July 1940.

After his ordination he spent a few more months at Venegono to complete his studies and exercise his priestly ministry.

Apostle in Valtellina

Fr. Lorenzo Bono, while waiting for hostilities to end, was appointed to Rebbio, where he taught the young seminarians and worked as "propagandist".

He did this for six years, with so much enthusiasm, dedication and good results that he was called "the apostle of Valtellina". Those with him in Rebbio at the time remember that each year he would exclaim: "Good heavens! (Santo cielo! - a life-long favourite expression) Another year gone. Here we get older and Africa is as far off as ever!"

He still had one delay to endure: five months spent in Bologna studying English (January-May 1946). He set off, at last, on 1 July.

The love of his life: Africa

He stayed in that land, that he came to love more than life itself, until 1962, when he was expelled.

Fr. Francesco Rinaldi Ceroni writes: "I knew him during my own first years of missionary apostolate in Bahr-el-Ghazal (early 50's). Fr. Bono was assistant in Mboro mission, 26 km. from Wau. I was assistant in Wau, the provincial town.

What I remember of Fr. Bono were his zeal and his missionary ardour in visiting the chapels and Catholic families in the vast area that was Mboro mission. He was tireless and, like his late, beloved pastor Fr. Arpe, went around on a bicycle. Only rarely, for the places furthest off, did he use a car - an old Ford, that was used for everything, from apostolate to school visiting."

An offering to Mary Immaculate

"In 1954, first centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception," continues Fr. Rinaldi Ceroni, "a  was arranged in the Vicariate Apostolic of Wau, with several statues of Our Lady of Fatima that went from chapel to chapel in the different parishes. Since Wau and Mboro were neighbours, we agreed that I would preach in his chapels and he in mine.

I remember his spirit of penance and his austerity. He hardly ever took anything with him from the mission: neither food - because he always ate whatever the people gave him, as the Gospel teaches - nor bedding. He used to joke that nature had given him a short, round body, that made a good mattress. I'm sure his spirit of mortification was the reason behind it.

The man and his style

Fr Bono's first "tour" in Africa was in three missions: Mboro-Raga (1946-1951), Dem Zubeir (1951-1952) in pastoral work as assistant; and Mboro from 1952 to 1957 as superior. The centre of his life and way of living was his ministry: safaris, visiting the old and sick, endless hours in the confessional or teaching catechism to the children.

His superiors of the time give quite glowing reports on his first period in the missions. Fr. Santandrea admires his zeal and spirit of poverty, characteristics of the missionaries of the primitive Church: "with no haversack", rich only in faith and his enthusiasm for taking God to men. Fr. Ghiotto is a bit critical at first: "instead of using his tongue to chatter so much, he could use it to learn the languages better; but on the positive side, he is a man of great spirit of sacrifice and community life. When he is around, everybody feels better, and will certainly not be downhearted". Fr Saoncella remarks that "he works with the greatest good intention, and is an exemplary religious". Fr. Briani calls him "a great worker and man of God".

To Italy with... nostalgia

After 12 years in the missions, it was only right that he should have a bit of rest in Italy.

Having finished his rounds, and still in excellent health, he began to feel the pangs of his longing for Africa. "I am suffering from an indescribable melancholy, that will only go away in the Sudan," he wrote.

So, in September 1958, having gathered together a lot of things that would be useful in Africa, and ensured that his former companions in the seminary would continue their help, he set out again. First Raga as superior and then back to Mboro (1959-1962) as curate, engaged in the work he loved: the missionary and ministerial contact, moving from village to village.

Advance deportee

Things were taking a turn for the worse in Sudan. After Independence (1956), the missions and the Church were hindered by increasing restrictions, which became a real persecution.

Fr. Bono, despite prohibitions, could not refuse to help people by giving medicine to the sick, or baptism to those who requested it, or material aid to the poor who came begging. Two years before the mass expulsion of missionaries from South Sudan, he was thrown out. It was December 1962.

He bowed his head and returned to Italy, where he joined the junior seminary at Barolo as propagandist.

Eight years in Italy

Life was a bit tough in Barolo. The winds that would reach gale force in 1968 were already beginning to blow; there were some disaffected members in the community (who later left the Institute); and missionaries used to vast horizons felt hemmed in and isolated.

He did animation work at Rebbio in 1963 and 1964, then went on to Messina and priestly ministry.

The long years in Italy were wearing him down, and he never missed the chance of reminding his superiors that Africa was vast, and that there must be a place for him somewhere.

"If it were not for Fr. Briani, I could have been in Africa at least 6 years ago," he wrote on 31 July 1969 to the newly-elected Superior General, Fr Agostoni. "Here they all say:  And I answer: my vocation is essentially missionary, so why stay here straining at the leash among people who don't want to listen, already sick and tired of the Word of God? Isn't this a betrayal of our vocation? At my age, with my limited intelligence, I don't obtain results. We can't all be professors; you need some people to pull the cart, just as I have always done so far!". His re-assignment to the missions arrived almost at once.

A miracle from Our Lady

In 1970 he was appointed to Arua diocese in Uganda, and after undergoing a brief acclimatization course (because even in Africa things change!) "with impatience", he went to Paidha as assistant. He had problems learning Alur. Fr. Sala wrote: "He speaks Alur, but it is only the patient good will of the people that make him understood. They guess at what he is saying, since they know he is talking about Jesus, whom he knows, loves and wishes to communicate to them."

Fr. Rinaldi Ceroni illustrates the great willingness of the father in this episode: "In January 1972 Fr. Sartori had been invited to preach the retreat to the confreres in Zaire, at Ndedu. When I went to Uganda to collect him, Doctor (Fr.) Ambrosoli said that Fr. Sartori was in no state to face the strain of the journey and the retreat. Fr Bono's name was mentioned, and he generously accepted, with the comment  He preached from the heart, illustrating the Word of God with his own experiences, and left the confreres with a lot of valid teachings and wise counsels."

Fr Centis was at Paidha at the time. He reminisces: "I was with him until April 1974. He worked with intensity, always in the style of a front-line missionary. After a while, his kindness had become proverbial among the people: Fr Bono was indeed a Good Father.

"In 1974 he was affected by a serious haemorrhage in his eyes. It looked very serious right from the start, and he returned to Italy; but no treatment seemed to helP. So he decided to turn to Our Lady. He went to Lourdes, where he prayed earnestly to be cured. And he was - enough to be able to return to Uganda in August 1975. After a short period in Aber, he was posted `definitively' to Angal."

Even the Pope was led astray

At Angal Fr. Bono found two old priests: Fr. Dall'Amico and Mgr. Paolo Jalcebo, who had been made PP by Bishop Tarantino when a number of missionaries had been expelled. Fr. Bono, though only assistant, was given a free rein for his tireless activity, and soon became as well-liked as at Paidha. Among various initiatives, he took an interest in the publication of the Sunday Missal and the Gospels in Alur, constantly nagging at Fr. Colleoni, who was in charge of printing projects, to get a move on.

In 1979, with a war going on between the army of Idi Amin and a liberation force from Tanzania, word suddenly spread that Fr Bono had been killed by retreating Amin troops. The news reached the Generalate in Rome and even the Vatican. At the Angelus on the following Sunday, 29 April, the Pope asked those in St Peter's Square to pray for the repose of the soul of the missionary Fr. Lorenzo Bono, killed in Uganda a few days previously.

During the disturbance, Fr Bono was in the church, where he decided to wait until it died down. "If I have to die, the best place to do so is next to the Lord," he thought.

In fact, Frs. Fiorante and Dal Maso were killed a few days later at Pakwach mission (about 25 miles away), possibly by some of the Moslem traders in the town.

Even "Familia Comboniana" published the news of Fr. Bono's death, noting his goodness (a play on his name) in welcoming anyone who turned to him, and stressing his zeal for the good of souls.

In the correction printed in "Familia Comboniana", the father wrote: "Heartfelt thanks to all confreres for the prayers for me, and for all the undeserved praise. I will try to do my best in my few remaining years to be faithful to what was written in F.C. May God's grace, the Blessed Virgin and the prayers of many good people help me to live with true fervour and zeal".

Protected by heaven

In 1992, while driving between Maracha and Koboko in his little Suzuki, he was fired on by robbers. One bullet took off part of his ear, but he did not stop, and got away safely. Heaven was definitely looking after him still. He had a policeman with him, who had told him not to stop when a man appeared on the road with a rifle. The officer was hit in the thigh, and Fr. Bono dropped him off at Maracha hospital. He himself paused just long enough to have his ear medicated, then carried on to his mission. When the confreres exclaimed in surprise at his appearance, he simply said: "Our Lady has saved me this time, too." And he went off into the church. It was Saturday afternoon, and some people were waiting for Confession.

Heavenly protection was also provided when, on the steep slope at Pakia (Nebbi), the brakes of the Peugeot pick-up full of altar boys began to fade: at the Nyarwodo river, the vehicle missed the centre of the bridge by a good bit, and came within a whisker of a tumble into the river. From then on, Fr. Bono let others do the driving.

In February 1993, he met the Pope in Gulu, and reminded him of the day when his death had been announced "Urbi et Orbi". The Pope laughed and embraced him: "I wasn't speaking ex cathedra that day," he said. Then, stroking Fr. Lorenzo's long beard, John Paul II added: "Keep on working for the Lord for a long time yet": The magazine "Famiglia Cristiana" reported the episode, with a photograph of that rare meeting.

Confessor

Fr. Bono's real passion was the ministry of the confessional. "If people live in God's grace," he used to say, "they have all they need; they want for nothing."

Each safari was a success or a failure for him according to the number of confessions. He would often remark to Fr. Centis:

"These young priests, even Combonis, don't hear confessions any more!" And he said it with real pain.

He never missed pastoral meetings at any level, even though he would call some of them "a waste of time". His goodness made him good company, and everybody liked him.

Silent departure

On Saturday 30 September 1995, Fr Lorenzo had a stroke. He was found lying by the veranda outside his room early in the morning. The confreres took him across to the hospital, where it was immediately realised that nothing could be done. Problems with his lungs and kidneys set in almost at once.

At 15:30 on Tuesday, 3rd October, the bells and the drums of the mission announced his passing.

Fr. Bono used to pray often for rain, which was very scarce in the area of Angal. During the night following his death, about 4 inches fell; nobody could remember anything similar, and they all concluded that it was a proof of his triumphant arrival in Heaven.

At 14:00 on 4th October the Requiem Mass began, with the episcopal vicar, Mgr. Peter Jacan, presiding. The church, the surrounding area and the wide road leading up to the mission were all crowded: "Never seen so many people!" wrote Fr. Sala. Many confreres and other priests turned up, and before the end of the Mass the Bishop arrived from Arua.

His heritage

Fr. Bono leaves the memory of a man fully in tune with his vocation. Some of the faithful used to say "He seems to have been born a priest". He was always deeply concerned with the spiritual growth of the parishioners and of the sick, especially through the ministry of Reconciliation.

He always felt for the poor, the weak, the marginalised, the suffering, whom he fed, visited, clothed and consoled.

Children went up to him because they perceived his goodness. He wanted to see them all in school, and helped the little village schools as best he could. He had an especially soft spot for African seminarians and priests; like Comboni. And now he is with Blessed Daniel in the joy of heaven.