In Pace Christi

Born in Montenegrino (Varese) on 20 January, 1928, he joined the novitiate in Venegono on 1 September, 1945, where two years later he took temporary vows. He continued to study at Brescia minor seminary where he was a prefect. On 20 September, 1951, he took perpetual vows and was ordained priest in Milano in 1952. We may include in this obituary what he himself wrote on the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary of ordination in 2002, as published in “Quaderno dell’Amicizia”.

“I am thinking of all you friends, companions in the priesthood and participants in the same missionary adventure. I try to imagine all that happened in the priestly life of each one of us as we served the Mission in various parts of the world. I hope to have news of you through the “Quaderno dell'Amicizia”, now that many years have passed since we last saw each other. On my part, I want to give you just an outline of my missionary life to remember and to thank the Lord for all he has done for me”.

On 7 June, 1952, at the end of the ordination ceremony, Fr. Medeghini gave me, too, my first missionary obedience: ‘You are to go to Lebanon to study Arabic and then to the Sudan’. Together with the note there was a picture of St. Teresina which I still have. In August, I left with Frs. Brambilla, Boffelli and Brundu for Zahle, in Lebanon, and were met by Fr. Figini. We were able to visit the Holy Land but when we arrived there all was quiet and still: it was the Sabbath and we did not know it. In the basilica of Mount Carmel, with the large statue of Our Lady turned towards Africa (it could be turned in any direction), I entrusted to Her, the Queen of Nigrizia, all my missionary life and She has been marvellously faithful, always close to me and on my path.

Subsequently, I went to Khartoum to continue the study of Arabic at Comboni College and looking after the internal students. From there Fr. Todesco sent me to Bahr el Ghazal where I stayed until the expulsion of the missionaries in 1964.

Those years in Sudan were unforgettable. I had cordial contacts with the Arabs and I saw the beginnings of the rebellion that endures even today, I witnessed the death sentences of the first Denka guerrillas and I had as a colleague Fr. Barnaba Deng whom I left alone at the mission of Aweil and who was killed soon after our expulsion.

My years in Bahr el Ghazal were like a wonderful dream: studying the language, the first Denka and Jur baptisms, the passionate prayers of the Moslem women before the statue of our Lady in our little grass-roofed church, journeys on horseback and on foot through woods, swamps as big as the sea… fighting lions and dragons and facing many dangers but always protected, I am convinced, by St. Joseph. I saw the hunger: hundreds of people lying outside our house worn out by hunger.

I have very fond memories of the Brothers who introduced me into missionary life. I remember especially and with great affection Brothers Grismondi Giosuè, Zanetti Angelo, Cicenia and Fiori.

Then there was the expulsion of the missionaries in March 1964. The soldiers with their rifles pointed at us, Christians hiding behind the trees to wave us a furtive goodbye, their running into the church to consume in one last Holy Communion the sacred species we had to leave behind.

I cannot forget the tears of Mgr. Ireneo Dud at Wau airport where he gave us general absolution before we boarded the aircraft. He was now left alone.

Having returned to Italy with ‘FINAL’ stamped on my passport, I spent five years in Rebbio where another period of missionary life began for me. Fr. General asked me which mission I would prefer to go to and I answered: anywhere but Uganda (Uganda was then known as the most Christian country in Africa). Bur that was exactly where I was sent in 1970 where I have been for 32 years. I am grateful to Divine Providence for choosing this marvellous and difficult mission for me. Those were years of danger, seeking refuge in the forests, fear and hazards of all sorts and often under very disagreeable and stressful conditions. I managed to carry out an intense apostolate requiring enormous effort but with great satisfaction and many blessings. I had the grace of feeling at home among so many friendly and good people open to the Gospel who helped my faith.

I met some saints, especially catechists, faithful friends and often a heroic example of love for the Lord in total dedication.

I experienced the grace and the desire to move the Church to grow and become self-sufficient and mature and I suffered because of certain shortcomings especially among the priests. Above all, I met Mary, the Holy Mother of the Church, my Lady and my Mother who opened up for me hidden horizons of spiritual life and missionary apostolate on many occasions. Particularly at the Sanctuary prepared for Her, the goal of thousands of pilgrims, I felt her special presence for me and the many people who turned to her with faith and devotion. The readiness and simplicity with which so many people accepted the invitation to consecrate themselves entirely to Mary are still a stimulus and example for me for which I am immensely grateful.

In this Marian context, in silence and solitude, but with great peace and gratitude in my heart, I will celebrate my fiftieth year of priesthood and my Golden Jubilee Mass. I keep before me the poster with our photographs and I remember all of you, one by one, with admiration and friendship.

Let us renew our determination to continue to the end with the firm hope of meeting again there where Jesus and Mary will welcome us into the eternal award we were promised. I greet you and embrace you with affection wherever you are scattered throughout the missionary world”.

Fr. Sebastiano remained at Iceme, Uganda, as the local superior up to 2009. He then returned to Italy for medical treatment, first in Milan and then in Rebbio. He passed away in Milano on 5 September, 2016.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 270 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2017,  pp. 120-124.