In Pace Christi

Fr. Giuseppe Simionato was found dead in bed on the morning of 27 February 2008 at the priest’s residence in the parish of Nossa Senhora das Graças, at Porto Velho, the capital of the Brazilian state of Rondonia. He had been alone for a few days as his confrere had had to suddenly return to Portugal for family reasons. Another confrere had already arranged to go to Porto Velho and be with him.

About a month previously, he had been to San Paolo for a medical check-up and the results had been good, including his cardiac tests. However, he had recently revealed, in his usual confidential manner, that something serious was wrong for which his doctor had advised surgery as soon as possible. When asked, he said he would prefer to have this done in Italy and began to prepare to leave. Unfortunately, the end came sooner than expected.

He spent Tuesday with Fr. Franco Vialetto who had come to visit him from the faraway mission of Cacoal. The last person to speak with him was his friend Eudes whom he told he was feeling very uneasy. They parted company at 11pm. The next morning, seeing that Fr. Giuseppe had not come to the church, Eudes asked the parish secretary to go and see if he was alright. The secretary went to his room and found he had died during the night. He was lying on the bed with a peaceful expression on his face showing he had probably died in his sleep. The doctor said death was caused by a massive heart attack.

So it was that, a few months before his 84th birthday, Fr. Giuseppe ended his long missionary life (53 years) in Brazil. He was one of the first Comboni Missionaries to obtain the Brazilian citizenship while keeping that of his native Italy, denoting his great love for both countries. He had changed his name, becoming officially José, more commonly called Zé or, affectionately, Fr. Zezinho.

The news of his death spread rapidly in the city and throughout Rondonia, reaching the various places where he had worked: Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte. There were endless expressions of grief but even more of admiration and gratitude.

The funeral took place the following day with a packed church and the Mass was concelebrated by two bishops and numerous priests to mark the memory of a missionary, pastor of communities and tireless comrade in the defence of the rights of the people, especially of the peasants in their continual fight for Land Reform. The representative of the most important Movement of Landless Workers (MLW) said: “Morreu nosso comandante” (our commander has died).

In his long letter, Fr. José Iborrá, representative of the “Pastoral Commission for the Land” (PCL), an organisation of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops, wrote: “This marks the end of the life of the eldest militant in the struggle for land in Rondonia, after thirty years as a missionary in our state. A pastor attentive to the various problems and sufferings of our families, he listened to all with patience and love, without saying no to anyone. During the Eucharistic celebration, co-operators and comrades in the struggle shared the difficulties the people faced.

In 1979, Fr. Giuseppe was part of a group which founded the PCL in Rondonia. He accompanied the peasants and immigrants continually coming in search of land and often attacked by the ranchers who illegally occupied most of the territory. Right from the first years of Comboni presence in that region, Fr. Giuseppe busied himself with the formation of the peasants’ union and the organisation of associations and cooperatives of smallholders.

With previous experience in education, together with Fr. Franco Vialetto he founded the first Family Agricultural School (FAS) in Rondonia for the education of young farmers. This initiative spread to many parts with FAS which are still a reference point for the education of peasants and also of indigenous people.
He supported in every possible way the MLW and other movements in the struggle to acquiring land. He would meet them on parish premises, go to celebrate Mass in their camps, participate in their gatherings and grant a hearing to the leaders who came to him for advice.

Here follow some details of Fr. Giuseppe’s life. He was born at Trebaseleghe (PD) in Italy, on 19 June 1924, to Vittorio e Margherita Barbiero who had eight children of whom five are still alive. His family tell his story thus: “At the age of twelve Giuseppe entered the diocesan seminary at Treviso (the diocese of Padova had no seminary as yet) where he stayed all during the war. By character he was reserved and affectionate, very active and strong-willed, always ready to listen. He acted as choir master and played the violin. During his holidays at home, he would get up very early to help his brothers with the work in the fields and then go to Mass at 6am.”

Once he finished theology he decided to become a Comboni Missionary with the idea of going to Africa, even though his mother would have preferred he became a diocesan priest or a Salesian. Fr. Giuseppe was somewhat disappointed when he was appointed to Brazil instead of Africa.

He spent two periods in Portugal, helping in the parishes, learning the Portuguese language and doing a course in first aid. In 1955 he embarked for Brazil. As he later confessed, he was very much afraid of the voyage.

He managed to return to Italy only after seven years. When his parents died he was in Brazil and could not attend their funerals. While his mother was ill, he was able to assist her for some months and then return to Brazil. His mother died a few months later. I remember what he told us some years ago, as he spoke of his goodbye to Rondonia after his longest period at Porto Velho: “Since I cannot possess anything as my own, I planted a fruit tree as a sign of my roots in that land and the fruits which I leave as a gift”.

This is how our confreres remember him: “First of all, he was a great friend to all, always available whatever the cost. He stayed in almost all our houses in Brazil, always ready for a new foundation, courageously facing the new situations. He was especially attentive to education and founded high schools and family-based schools (FAS). He was always very much aware and committed socially. He was open to dialogue and respectful” (Fr. Andrea Pazzaglia).

“Fr. Giuseppe, more than anyone else, had a special touch in pastoral matters as a social vision and ferment, but globally, not as a separate aspect. He was greatly committed to education. When he worked in the diocese of Vitória he was in total harmony with the spirit of renewal of that diocese. His numerous changes of place and community may be seen as his willingness to be open to new situations, always bringing with him his social vision. His last mission at Porto Velho confirmed this option of his clearly and concretely. He opened and organised the facilities of the parish to various social organisations. He never drew back from conflict but usually suffered in silence. This certainly placed a strain on his heart” (Fr. Pietro Bracelli).

Other confreres added: “Fr. Giuseppe was humble and determined. He loved simplicity. He accepted and embraced with determination and enviable mental clarity the new times of renewal in the Church and the mission, never losing his spirit of openness and of peace, ill at ease with confrontation. We must also remember how he would welcome confreres who came to work with him: he entrusted them with their work, showing complete confidence and respecting the responsibility of each one.”

In the words of the father and mother of a family representing numerous non-Comboni friends: “Fr. Giuseppe was very attentive to people. He would always ask how the family was. This was no pretence: he listened with patience and love. Nothing was too much for him as he showed when, for instance, he travelled two days and one night by coach to visit a family whose father had died.”
(Fr. Alcides Costa)
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 238 suppl. In Memoriam, aprile-luglio 2008, pp. 59-65.