In Pace Christi

Fr. Giuseppe Frigerio was born in 1939 at Inveruno (MI). He took temporary vows in Gozzano in 1960 and perpetual vows in Brescia in 1963. He was ordained priest in 1964 and spent ten years in Uganda as a formator and teacher (1965-1975), five years in Elstree (LP) as formator of scholastics (1975-1980), six years in the NAP at the Vocations and Mission Centre (1989-1995), ten years in the Curia (1996-2006) as Personal Secretary to the Superior General and other offices, then he again went to Uganda for seven years (2007-2014) and finally to Rebbio where he passed away on 27 November, 2016. This is the testimony written for Familia Comboniana by Mgr. Giuseppe Sandri.

“When I arrived in the Curia at the beginning of June, 1999, to begin my work as Secretary General, I met Fr. Giuseppe Frigerio for the first time, then the Personal Secretary of the Fr. General, Manuel Augusto Lopes Ferreira. I found in Fr. Giuseppe a welcoming and helpful confrere who, with sensibility, courtesy and a great sense of humour, introduced me to the situation on the ‘Third Floor’ where Fr. General, his Council and the Secretary General had their offices.

Fr. Giuseppe was also a man with practical sense, an expert carpenter and able to fix almost anything. He showed me the archives, how to use the photocopier and explained what there was to know about the General Secretariat, patiently answering the many questions I posed, since I was in a completely new environment. I understood he was recovering from a stroke and, very frankly, he told me about his state of health which limited considerably what he could do. I was especially impressed by his daily efforts to improve his health with regular walks in the Curia grounds and in the area around Via Lilio, as well as exercising in his room.

We would often meet to work together, almost always in my office but sometimes in his, especially when preparing Consultas and during Consulta meetings. Fr. Giuseppe greatly respected Fr. General and his Council and carried out his work with prudence, sensibility, exactness and confidentiality. If I had to ask him anything for the Consultas or Consulta minutes, he would do everything possible to help me. He also gave valuable help in editing “Familia Comboniana” in Italian. I used to give him the text for corrections and comments before having it translated into other languages. I did the same with the Bulletin. In no time at all he would bring me the text with corrections or changes to be made marked in red. He also helped with texts in other languages, especially in English: he had a keen eye for spelling and printing errors.

I also greatly appreciated his help in settling in to the community of the Curia, a world that was completely new to me. His participation in community prayer, family councils and other community activities was an example for me. Sometimes there were differences of opinion and he made his voice heard but, once a decision was reached together, he did all he could to put it into practice, despite his physical ailments. He loved the Institute and suffered when he heard of confreres in difficulty. At times, when we spoke together, he expressed rather harsh judgements regarding certain situations of the Institute or regarding confreres but this was just between ourselves. He avoided all forms of gossip. He was a well organised and precise person and it annoyed him when things were done any old way and not according to established principles.

During the General Chapter of 2003 he was of invaluable help to the entire General Secretariat and we supported each other in the transition from one General Administration to another; we missed those who were leaving and with whom we had worked so well for some years and had greatly appreciated but we also felt a degree of excitement and curiosity regarding the new arrivals. Our friendship helped us to be completely at the service of the new Fr. General, Fr. Teresino Serra and his Council.

One afternoon I heard my phone ringing. It was Fr. Frigerio stammering “I am not well”. I ran to his room and found him lying on the divan. He whispered to me saying he had had a heart attack. I called other confreres. Then we phoned St. Eugenio hospital for emergency assistance. The ambulance, together with medical personnel, arrived within minutes. Fr. Giuseppe was taken to the ground floor and placed in the ambulance. I accompanied him to the emergency department of the hospital holding his hands in mine while he opened and closed his eyes whispering unintelligible expressions of pain. Fr. Giuseppe was immediately seen by a doctor who, an hour later told me it was a miracle he was still alive. I visited him and found him peaceful and able to speak. It took some days before he could return to Via Lilio and begin a long period of convalescence. During all this time he uttered not one word of complaint. He expressed his regret at not being able to do his work and for the inconvenience his heart attack caused the Superior General and all of us.

He was exemplary in his desire and efforts to regain his health. After a few weeks rest he came back to a room on the third floor but did not stay there long. His condition prevented him doing much work and he accepted this with resignation and conformed to the new task he was given; he later was placed in charge of copying documents. As his health improved, so did his desire to return to Africa increase in his heart. He left the Curia for a long period of rest at his home and was assigned to Uganda in 2007. After that we never met again.

It was no surprise to me that he had another heart attack. What did surprise me was the fact that he was able to work for so many years in Uganda before going to Rebbio.

Thank you, Fr. Giuseppe, for the time God allowed me to spend with you: the way you prayed and shared, your love for life, your missionary passion, your helpfulness despite your physical limitations, your Comboni identity, your sense of humour and your way of ‘keeping your feet firmly on the ground’ were all precious gifts to me and I was greatly enriched by them. A thousand thanks. I pray for you. Intercede for me before our God of Goodness as I continue to soldier on in the diocese of Witbank in South Africa”.
(Mgr. Giuseppe Sandri).
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 270 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2017,  pp. 125-130.