In Pace Christi

Fr. Giuseppe Russo was born at Enna in Sicily on 22 March 1918, but a few years later his family moved to Rome. Giuseppe entered the novitiate of Venegono in 1934 and made his first vows on 7 October 1936. He was ordained priest in Verona on 28 June 1942 and worked in Italy for four years, till 1946, when he was sent to England to study English.

In 1947 he went for the first time to Uganda and worked in various missions among the Lango people, in Lira diocese. He was the founder of the Junior School of Ngeta, which would become the Comboni College, one of the best secondary schools in North Uganda.

During his long missionary life he spent two periods in Italy, from 1955 to 1959 and from 1970 to 1983, where he worked in vocation and mission promotion. He was the one who founded the community in Messina.

In Uganda he served for many years as parish priest in Aduku, Ngeta, Dokolo and Aber; everywhere becoming well known and loved by his parishioners on account of his generosity, commitment and jovial character.

For the last 22 years in Uganda he felt called to a special ministry to witchdoctors, convincing many of them to abandon their trade and to return to God. Enormously successful, he welcomed back to the Church more then 500 of them. He travelled all over Uganda with a group of converted witchdoctors who have been persuaded by Fr. Giuseppe to reveal to the people their tricks and deceptions. He was able, in this way, to prove to audiences that the killing of the so called “witches” was murder and human sacrifice of children was the massacre of the innocent. Through his tireless activity he saved many from unjust sentences. Lawyer and judges appreciated his work and, on matter of witchcraft, consulted him. The mayor of Lira, Mr. G. P. Owiny, on 26 December 2005 wrote a letter “recognizing and appreciating Fr. Russo’s effort in fighting witchcraft in society to ensure its total eradication”.

Fr Joseph was also well known for his kind heart. In spite of his age and diminishing strength he was always available to respond to sick calls and to assist the poor and those in need. He would never say no. His joyful character and enthusiasm were contagious and for this he was loved by all. He had no enemies and even those who were unmasked as deceivers could not hold a grudge against him. At 87 he was still full of energy in his ministry.

On 18 February 2006 Fr. Giuseppe was returning from Gulu where he had conducted a weeklong meeting on witchcraft and worked on the book he was writing with the assistance of Fr. Cosimo De Iaco. That Saturday morning, before setting off for Lira, he celebrated Mass at Holy Rosary (Gulu). During a brief homily he commented on the transfiguration of Jesus and invited the people to contemplate his face. At about 15 km from Lira his car swerved to the opposite side of the road, running over two people, one of whom died instantly and the other was taken to Lira Hospital. The car crashed against a large termites’ hill. Taken to a private hospital in Lira, Fr. Giuseppe was assisted by the parish priest of Lira, who administered the anointing of the sick to him, and by some Sisters. During all this time, while the doctors were attending to his wounds, Fr. Giuseppe was conscious. He could not remember anything about the accident. He died around 13.30, two hours after the accident, just as he was being taken to the operating theatre for an operation to stop an internal haemorrhage.

The funeral was held in the mission of Ngeta. The Eucharist was presided over by the Bishop of Lira, Mgr. Giuseppe Franzelli, with the participation of all the confreres and priests of the diocese of Lira and many confreres from the diocese of Gulu. Present were also the Comboni Missionary Sisters with their provincial, Sr. Rita Maffi, many Sisters of other Institutes and a large group of ex witchdoctors. The provincial underlined the virtues and missionary enthusiasm of Fr. Giuseppe and the great contribution he was able to give to the Church of Lira by living his vocation in totality and fullness.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 232 suppl. In Memoriam, ottobre 2006, pp. 4-12