In Pace Christi

Fr. Dorino Elisire was born in Milan on 28 July, 1926. A member of Catholic Action in his youth, he expressed the desire to enter the Comboni Missionaries as a ‘Coadjutor Brother’. He did the novitiate in Florence where he took his first vows on 29 June, 1947. He had various jobs such as doorkeeper and house maintenance, sacristan and cook at Sulmona, Trent, Venegono, Brescia and Verona (San Tomio), from 1947 to 1954 and for two more years he was in charge of building and missionary animation at Thiene.

He left for the missions as a Brother and was assigned to the province of Khartoum, in charge of the house and the school in Khartoum North (1956-1959).

He was transferred to Egypt and there Bro. Dorino had his work cut out to master both French and Arabic, both of which were necessary, as he said, “to avoid both frustration and hilarity”. In those times the region of Egypt included the communities of Eritrea. Appointed to Comboni College, Asmara, in 1959, he was officially placed in charge of the schools. His contribution was especially precious due to his natural cordiality in welcoming the pupils with whom he immediately made friends. He was responsible for school supplies and cooperated in running the primary classes. He then went to the junior seminary at Decamere (1966-1970) as teacher and prefect of the boys. In 1970 he was sent to Gondar where the Comboni Missionaries, at the invitation of the bishop, were then returning to their former mission, a parish with a school in the diocese of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

On 30 December, 1970, Bro. Dorino wrote from Gondar to the regional Council and to Rome, expressing the desire to become a priest: “It is now about 25 years since I joined the Institute as a Brother. That was what I wanted since the start of my vocation.... Now, however, in the light of spiritual developments in recent years, I must say I would like to become a priest”.

It was a period in which other Brothers, too, were asking to be admitted to the priesthood. The superiors feared that this desire of Bro. Dorino might come from a complex of inferiority or dissatisfaction. Besides, he was no longer very young. As it turned out, he was admitted to theological studies at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome (1972-1976) and, at the end of his studies he was ordained priest in Rome by Cardinal Ugo Poletti. It was the first of May, 1976.

A month later, Fr. Dorino was assigned to the delegation of Egypt where he stayed for two years in the parish of Zamalek, in Cairo, so that he could deepen his knowledge of French and Arabic. On giving him his appointment, Fr. Tarcisio Agostoni, the Superior General, wrote: “The dedication which you have shown in the years preceding your priesthood and in these years of expectation, is the guarantee of your fruitful work in the future.”

Appointed to the Region of Khartoum (1978-1983), he worked as a teacher in the middle school at Port Sudan and then in pastoral work at Khartoum, Omdurman and Atbara.

From 1983 to 1985, he worked in South Sudan at Rejaf as spiritual director of the Apostles of Jesus. On 11 July, 1985, for health reasons, he was appointed to the province of Kenya where he worked for three years in the parish of Ongata Rongai.

Again for health reasons, he was appointed to the Italian province on 1 July, 1988. Fr Dorino then wrote: “It has been a source of great peace to me to know that I can be a missionary – one who is sent – in whatever place I find myself”.

In Italy he worked mainly in pastoral ministry at Gozzano, Trent (also in missionary animation), Gordola, Verona, Cordenons, Rebbio and Milan. From Verona, Fr. Aleardo De Berti sent this testimony: “He was a simple man, humble and quite shy but with a kind heart. He was always peaceful and optimistic in a kindly way.” Fr. Lino Spezia wrote: “Fr. Dorino came to the Father Ambrosoli Centre in Milan in the year 2000. He accepted this period, living his life not as ‘retired’ but fully, as far as it was possible. The impression he leaves us is that of a meek and honest man, with great humanity, delicate and kind towards those who approached him. He could surprise people at times with his passion for study and reading and he was never afraid to discuss theology and current topics with the scholastics who came to Milan for their summer experiences”.

As a Brother, Fr. Dorino lived nine years in Italy and fifteen in the missions. As a priest, he lived twelve years in the missions and twenty one in Italy. He died in Milan on 2 March, 2010.