In Pace Christi

Bro. Bruno was born on 14 February, 1923, at Terraglia (PD). When he was eleven years old, he wrote a letter to the child Jesus asking to go to Africa as a missionary. He then entered the seminary of Padua but soon realised that was not the life for him. He then went to the apostolic school at Thiene to become a Brother and was happy to have found what suited him.

He took first vows in Florence on 7 October, 1943, and then returned to Thiene. In September, 1947, he boarded a ship at Venice on his way to Gulu where he took final vows on 7 October, 1949.

In 1951, he was appointed to the procure where he taught mechanics at the school for skills in Gulu. In 1958, he went to the agricultural school in Lira. In 1961, he was still in Lira but at the service of the parish and teaching at the technical school. In 1963, he was sent to Layibi (Gulu) as Vice-rector and teacher at the technical school. In 1970 he also became a Regional Councillor. From 1971 to 1973, he worked in construction in Kampala.

In this regard, we here show some parts of an article that appeared in Nigrizia in November, 1970.

“Thousands of people attended the consecration of the new church dedicated to Our Lady of Africa, on 20 September last. The parish, in the care of the Comboni Missionaries, sprang up in the outskirts of Kampala city, in one of the fastest-growing districts. Mgr. Emmanuel Nsubuga, Archbishop of Kampala, presided at the inauguration ceremony in the presence of the Vice-Prime Minister, J. Babiiha and other important political and religious leaders.

As an architectural whole, the church is in harmony with its location and, at the same time, meets modern liturgical requirements. Inside, the original and centrally-planned structure is covered by a cone-shaped wooden ceiling, a theme taken from the traditional houses of some African ethnic groups.

Dominating the whole of the plain interior is a large fresco by the Comboni Brother and artist, Simone Fanti, representing the two scenes of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The construction of the church was carried out by a local firm under the direction of the two Comboni Brothers, Bruno Rizzo and Denis Wilkinson. Bro. Rizzo was already known in Uganda as the builder of Lira cathedral”.

In May, 1974, he worked for a year in Kenya where he built three missions: Kapenguria, Kacheliba and Tartar. He then returned to Uganda and worked at Nyantozi and in Kampala, as Vice-Procurator.

On 1 July, 1983, he was transferred to Nairobi to work as Inter-provincial Bursar for Kenya and Uganda.

Two years later, he went to Khartoum to help finish the construction of the seat of the Secretariat of the Sudanese Episcopal Conference. He then returned to Uganda.

“I feel happy, satisfied, fully realised – wrote Bro. Rizzo in March, 1994. – Last year I was seventy years old and I celebrated my Golden Jubilee of religious profession. I have worked for more than 46 years in Africa, dedicating myself to the m1ssionary life always with joy, dedication and great love. I have worked in the schools, in the church, in hospitals and among the people. I have worked with the Africans, trying to understand them, sharing their food, their work, their joys and sorrows and their hopes of a better future for all.

I spent the first 20 years of mission teaching in the technical schools for professional training, educating skilled workers and good Christians. After a year of studies and updating, I was asked to work in planning and development in the building, administration and consultancy sectors. Four years ago, in Kasaala, I started a new technical school for the training of mechanics, carpenters and builders with sections for re-forestation, domestic husbandry etc. We started dressmaking and domestic science classes for post-primary girls. The results are very promising. These young people, once they have finished the courses, will start their work in small cooperatives scattered throughout the various centres and districts of the Province.

I have been in Italy for a few months now for some rest and a holiday to regain my strength after some bouts of very ‘resistant’ malaria. In a few weeks, God willing, I hope to return to Uganda where I have a few projects to finish”.

He did, in fact, return to Uganda, even though he would return to Italy from time to time for treatment. In 2002, when his health worsened, he returned for good. After some years in Arco, he was transferred to Verona and the Centre for Sick and Elderly confreres, where he passed away on 18 October, 2014.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 262 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2015, pp. 101-106.