In Pace Christi

24 January, the day of Bro. Igino Antoniazzi’s birth into heaven, was also the day of the yearly diocesan assembly for the diocese of Nacala, attended by 60 missionaries.
They all gathered in the large church of Carapira to thank God for the gift of Bro. Igino’s life and witness, enlivened by the Word of God and the words of the bishop of Nacala.
Here are the main stages of his life. Bro. Igino was born in Montecchio Maggiore, Vicenza, in 1911, and took his first vows in Venegono in 1931. From 1931 to 1937 he served in Italy, in the houses of Troia and Thiene. From 1937 to 1943 he was a builder in Gondar, Ethiopia. Then back in Italy, at Rebbio, Padova and Trento (1943-1948). From 1948 to 1956 he minded the building of the seminary of Viseu in Portugal. In 1956 he left for Mozambique, where he stayed until 2001, mostly assigned to the carpentry workshop of Carapira. Back in Italy in August 2001, he was admitted at the C.A.A. of Verona.
Bro. Igino, a classic example of a Comboni Brother, lived his missionary life in a radical way. Daily he devoted a large amount of time to prayer, arriving in church early in the morning, much ahead of the other members of the community.
Being very friendly and sociable, he was very attentive and helpful with his confreres, other religious and laypeople.
He stuck by his ideas, but, because he loved peace, he was understanding with all and never left room for divisions and grudges. He always found the right word by having a good laugh or… praying over it.
He was a great worker and a promoter of development, and spent most of his energies in doing manual work. He was always quite active up to age of 89 when he stopped working because it was physically impossible for him to do so. Nevertheless, from his sickbay, he kept in touch with all and was always happy to offer advice.
He did not know what rest or time off was and rarely took time to relax. He always planned his holidays to Italy with times when he needed medical care or for one of the several operations he had to undergo. Even then he was busy getting what was needed for his work in the missions.
A charming aspect of his life was the deep relationship he had with his family, his brothers, his sisters-in-law and his many nephews and nieces. With great zeal he spoke to all about his missionary concerns and encouraged his native parish to contribute generously to the missions.
When in Carapira, he was proudly talking about his work as a young Brother, building new houses for the Institute. As soon as he finished a house, he was sent to build another, then another: Verona, Padova, Troia, Fai, and so on. It cost him a lot, because all this work was delaying his going to the missions, but he always obeyed and worked with good will.
Then came the mission assignment, but it was in Ethiopia and during the colonial war. There he had to start alone and in difficult places, with few supplies to work with. Because of his total commitment to his work he had recurring bouts of illness, but always bounced back and his will power made him move ahead. Having returned to Italy to recover, he gave much of his time and service to the scholastics, who had moved to Rebbio on account of the war. At that time he used to drive around on a steam vehicle.
Finally there was hope that he could go to Mozambique, but he was derailed to Viseu, Portugal, to build the seminary. In 1956 he eventually arrived in Mozambique where he remained until 2001, when, for health reasons, he was convinced to return to Italy and go to Verona. It cost him a lot because he wanted to leave in Carapira not only his 44 years of missionary service, but also his body, his heart and love, as a generous and lasting gift to Africa.