Daniel Comboni
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In Pace Christi
Podda Gesuino
Date of birth :
18/04/1930
Place of birth :
Orotelli
Temporary Vows :
09/09/1952
Perpetual Vows :
09/09/1954
Date of ordination :
26/06/1955
Date of death :
03/02/2003
Place of death :
São Luis/BR
Fr. Gesuino Podda was born at Orotelli, Nuoro, on 18 April 1930. He started his vocational journey at an early age by entering the regional seminary of Cagliari. Following the advice of his spiritual director, he joined the Comboni Missionaries to become a religious and a missionary ad gentes. In the novitiate he met Fr. Giovanni Audisio who helped him keep under control his rebellious spirit, especially with regard to obedience and some behavioural strict norms of those days.
He was ordained priest on 26 June 1955. His first assignment was in mission promotion in Southern Italy, a service he was asked to do again later in life.
Finally his dream of going ad gentes became a reality with his assignment to Brazil, in the state of Maranhão, and specifically in Balsas, located in the southern part of the State. In Loreto and Mangabeiras parishes, together with other Comboni Missionaries, he spurred the parishioners with his enthusiasm, teaching also how to play, and himself playing, the harmonium during the liturgical celebrations and catechism classes. He continued to care for the two parishes even after he was moved to Balsas.
He kept his rebellious character in check in situations of injustice and lack of love, being unable to put up with hypocrisy, no matter where it came from. Elected provincial, Fr. Gesuino left the community of Balsas in order to give more freedom of action to future provincials, and built the centre of the province of the Comboni Missionaries of Brazil Nordeste in São Luis (MA). With the support of Mgr. Rino Carlesi, he planned to go to the help of other dioceses that were short of priests.
At the end of his mandate as provincial he returned to Italy and to mission promotion. Later he returned as parish priest to Balsas, a fast growing city due to the influx of people from the countryside. Gradually, he left the care of the downtown area in order to concentrate his energies on the outskirts. It was a prophetic intuition and a move that met with criticism at the onset, but was widely praised later.
The last phase of his apostolate was in the parish of St. John the Baptist, in the heart of São Luis. He strengthened all the activities of a religious nature, without forgetting the social needs of the parish. The social centre catered for the sick and the people who had problems related to their poverty. Even after he got sick, he did not stop running and guiding the parish community. He was sharing in the life of the community through the telephone.
At the beginning of January, Fr. Gesuino attended the provincial retreat with the other Comboni Missionaries. He went to confession and went back to his daily activities with his trusted telephone at his side. He then asked to be hospitalised to take care of excessive fluid in his legs, but the situation grew more complicated with the onset of pneumonia. The cares of the doctors proved fruitless and, at 11.30 the night of 3 February 2003, Fr. Gesuino died of heart failure.
He was buried in Balsas, in the chapel of the Comboni Missionaries, next to the other deceased confreres: Fr. Franco Sirigatti, Fr. Marco Vedovato, Fr. Flavio Campus, Fr. Florio Chizzali and Fr. Fabio Bertagnolli.
He was ordained priest on 26 June 1955. His first assignment was in mission promotion in Southern Italy, a service he was asked to do again later in life.
Finally his dream of going ad gentes became a reality with his assignment to Brazil, in the state of Maranhão, and specifically in Balsas, located in the southern part of the State. In Loreto and Mangabeiras parishes, together with other Comboni Missionaries, he spurred the parishioners with his enthusiasm, teaching also how to play, and himself playing, the harmonium during the liturgical celebrations and catechism classes. He continued to care for the two parishes even after he was moved to Balsas.
He kept his rebellious character in check in situations of injustice and lack of love, being unable to put up with hypocrisy, no matter where it came from. Elected provincial, Fr. Gesuino left the community of Balsas in order to give more freedom of action to future provincials, and built the centre of the province of the Comboni Missionaries of Brazil Nordeste in São Luis (MA). With the support of Mgr. Rino Carlesi, he planned to go to the help of other dioceses that were short of priests.
At the end of his mandate as provincial he returned to Italy and to mission promotion. Later he returned as parish priest to Balsas, a fast growing city due to the influx of people from the countryside. Gradually, he left the care of the downtown area in order to concentrate his energies on the outskirts. It was a prophetic intuition and a move that met with criticism at the onset, but was widely praised later.
The last phase of his apostolate was in the parish of St. John the Baptist, in the heart of São Luis. He strengthened all the activities of a religious nature, without forgetting the social needs of the parish. The social centre catered for the sick and the people who had problems related to their poverty. Even after he got sick, he did not stop running and guiding the parish community. He was sharing in the life of the community through the telephone.
At the beginning of January, Fr. Gesuino attended the provincial retreat with the other Comboni Missionaries. He went to confession and went back to his daily activities with his trusted telephone at his side. He then asked to be hospitalised to take care of excessive fluid in his legs, but the situation grew more complicated with the onset of pneumonia. The cares of the doctors proved fruitless and, at 11.30 the night of 3 February 2003, Fr. Gesuino died of heart failure.
He was buried in Balsas, in the chapel of the Comboni Missionaries, next to the other deceased confreres: Fr. Franco Sirigatti, Fr. Marco Vedovato, Fr. Flavio Campus, Fr. Florio Chizzali and Fr. Fabio Bertagnolli.