In Pace Christi

Fr. Alberto Marra (19.04.1930 - 03.10.2008)
Fr. Alberto Marra was born at Filago, Bergamo province, on 19 April, 1930. He entered the novitiate in 1956, at the age of 26. He did his first year at Gozzano and the second at Monroe, in the United States. He took his first vows in 1958 and perpetual vows in 1961. He studied theology for three years at Cincinnati where he was ordained on 16 July, 1961. He did the fourth year in the new scholasticate of San Diego, California.
In 1962 he was assigned to the Italian province and stayed for two years in the Florence community as missionary animator, teacher and administrator.
He was then assigned to Uganda (1963-1968) where he worked in the parish of Aduku, in Lira diocese. After a sabbatical year, which included the renewal course in Rome, he returned to Uganda and the parish of Dokolo, again in the diocese of Lira, and remained there for three years. He worked hard and seriously in is pastoral ministry to the Lango.
In 1969 he returned to the province of Italy, serving in various houses. At Padova he worked in missionary animation, at Brescia as bursar, in Rome as provincial bursar, in charge of the travel office and ACSE, the Comboni Association for Immigrants and refugees, at Messina as vocations promoter responsible for the GIM, and as superior.
In 1974 he took some time out to experience the contemplative life at the Cistercian monastery of Farneta, in Lucca province. However, the outcome was that, as he himself wrote, “I had to admit I failed to quiet my yearning for the apostolic life." This was the main reason why he returned to the Comboni Missionaries.
From 1978 to 1981 he was superior at the Mother House. This was a very important time for the Institute. Already frequented by many confreres, the house had become a Centre for the Sick and there was much coming and going. As superior, he had to be a person of calm and tranquillity to receive all those arriving or leaving, to offer hospitality, receive visiting relatives and so forth. Then, in 1981, there was the added work of the centenary celebrations of the dies natalis of our Founder, St Daniel Comboni.
From 1982 to 1986, he occupied the post of provincial procurator and local bursar in London.
Later, while belonging to the General Curia in Rome, he was appointed by Propaganda Fide as spiritual director and director of the prestigious catechetical centre “Mater Ecclesia” at Castelgandolfo. Fr. Alberto undertook to transform it into a homely but serious Centre. Being an open sort of person and free from prejudice, he felt at ease with the youth who noted the care and interest he had in them.
I 1994, he was again assigned to the Italian province where he was placed in charge of ACSE, missionary animation and the travel office, while residing at San Pancrazio, in Rome. In 1998 he interrupted his work for medical treatment in Milan and at Arco. In 2000, he was appointed to Rebbio to take care of the elderly confreres and continue in missionary animation. His life was brought to an early end by cancer on 3 October, 2008. he was 78 years old. He was interred in the Comboni Chapel at Brusuglio, near Milan.
We may add here some fragments of the testimony of Fr. Luciano Benetazzo: “On coming to know Fr. Alberto, I was struck by his friendly manner and good humour. I saw him again at the 1979 General Chapter and also in 1993, when I was asked to take the directorship of the College of Propaganda Fide at Castelgandolfo where Fr. Alberto was working in the formation of catechists. I often invited him to return and visit the students who shouted for joy at seeing him again! I have no doubt that, in the entire history of the College, Fr. Alberto was the most creative and systematic director. Besides his missionary experience, he also had great educational intelligence: he loved the young people, understood them and sometimes even did too much for them, but only when his feelings overcame his understanding. He held them in great esteem and I shall always remember him with friendship and affection.”
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 239 suppl. In Memoriam, ottobre 2008, pp. 92-98.