In Pace Christi

Bro. Mario Rossignoli was born on 2 August, 1932, at Oppeano (Verona). Having completed Senior School, he joined the Comboni Institute. He really wanted to become a priest but, for various reasons, chose to be a Brother. He would become a builder, a teacher, a catechist but would always be a great vocations promoter. He used to say: “The mission has filled my life to the brim”.

After Verona (1953-1954), he went to Thiene (1954-1955), to Verona and Gozzano (1955-1956), and did his novitiate in Florence. He took first vows on March 25, 1958, and perpetual vows in 1962.

In 1958, Bro. Mario was sent to England to build the minor seminary at Mirfield. At that time, the Institute had assembled a team of Brothers to see to the construction of seminaries in various countries. “I remember – recalls Fr. Enrico Redaelli – to have met, many years later, the local expert builder from Huddersfield who still spoke with enthusiasm and admiration of those Brothers who would get up very early for prayers and Mass. Then they would have breakfast and get changed for work. When he arrived, they would already have done a considerable amount of work”.

In 1961, Bro. Mario went to Verona for a period working in the office of “Nigrizia”, and, spent from 1963 to 1965 in London as administrator of “Missions” magazine and the promotion office. It was then that he began to develop his interest in vocations promotion.

From 1965 to 1971, he worked in Uganda, in West Nile, first at Otumbari and then at Ajumani. “Bro. Mario was a blessing – writes Fr. Phillip Andruga – and a good friend to many, especially to young people whom he was following in the path of spiritual direction and vocation. They had given him the nickname of Brother Kaffifi, a name meaning light”.

In 1972, he returned to Bari, in Italy, to the Mission Promotion Centre where he stayed until 1979, trying to persuade other Comboni Brothers to appreciate this sort of work in the Institute. In this regard, we may read one of his letters that appeared in the MCCJ Bulletin n. 119, written in Bari in 1978. “I would like to invite all the Brothers (young and not so young), who are very enthusiastic about their vocation and their wonderful missionary experience: stay in your home country for some time to communicate this enthusiasm to the youth, to infect them with your joy in self-giving. The youth want living testimonies”.

In 1979, he was again appointed to Uganda and the diocese of Arua where he worked at Moyo in charge of the house up to 1981. After a couple of years at Juba, in South Sudan, at the end of 1982, he was recalled to Italy where he worked again for about ten years in vocations promotion, at the GIM in Padua and then at Lecce.

He was then again sent to South Sudan where he worked in charge of the house and as vocations promoter for a further 22 years: first at Juba, then at Pakele-Kocoa, at Moyo (Vocations Centre), at Lomin (Kajo Keji), at Agang-Rial, at Yirol and again at Juba.

In 2007, Bro. Mario returned for good to Italy. He was accompanied on his return journey by Fr. Luciano Perina who tells how, at the airport, Bro. Mario did not feel well and was gasping for breath so he sat near the entrance to get some air, begging the pardon of all the people coming in. Just as he was checking in, Fr. Luciano realised that the suitcases were locked and that Bro. Mario had the keys. And he was still sitting there at the entrance as crowds of people came and went. When Fr. Luciano explained things to the receptionist, this man tried to see who the “sick man” was. Recognising Bro. Mario, he said: “I know this man well. He came many times to my home, taught me many good things, he baptised my child, he is a holy man”. Then, as he remembered the kindness and thoughtfulness of Bro. Mario, his zeal for the Lord and for the people, instead of checking the luggage he himself carried them to the loading point, ready to be placed on the plane! And so Fr. Luciano and Bro. Mario continued their journey. They stopped in Addis Ababa where they had to wait five hours. While they were having a bite to eat, Bro. Mario said: “I feel much better. Can we go back to Juba? I am only 75 and, even if I cannot do much, I will be with my confreres and pray for everybody.”.

Once in Italy, he went first to Verona, then to Arco and, in 2012, again to Verona, for treatment: “When I realise that the time for suffering has come – he said – I have three options before me: I can rebel against it, I can endure it, or I can accept it as a gift and thank God for it. However, do not misunderstand me. The Christian must not seek suffering, but when it comes he has the possibility of accepting it as a gift, as Jesus did”. Bro. Mario died in Verona on 5 January 2014.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 262 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2015, pp.1-7.