In Pace Christi

Fr. Andrea is one of those people who, once met, are never forgotten.

He was born in Fumane, in the Province of Verona, 92 years ago. His details: 74 years of religious profession, 68 years as a priest; two years in Crema; ten years in South Sudan; three in Kenya; seventeen in Sicily (Messina and Palermo); seventeen in Brescia; seventeen in Limone and 212 days in Castel d’Azzano.

The first contact I had with him concerned his coming to Limone in 1998: as I tried to welcome him and show him round the house, he took no notice of me but went by himself to see what interested him. I said to myself: “This man needs no advice!” Sometimes, when visiting together, he would introduce me saying: “And this is my Superior”. I would add: “As if Fr. Andrea could possibly have a Superior!”. During a course of spiritual exercises, he noticed that silence was not being well observed. During the first meditation he appeared with his small suitcase which he placed on the table and said: “If there is no silence, I will leave”. No need to ask what happened…

Even though he was confident and sure of himself, he also had moments of fear and he could not bear being alone. The Word of God was his work, his passion, his mission. When he preached, he spoke with authority and influence. St. Mark says of Jesus: “He taught them with authority, unlike the scribes” because his word was powerful. The same may be said of Fr. Andrea. He would prepare himself, study, read and often quote his favourite masters, Paul VI and Cardinal Martini. He had a strong character and he loved God with the character he had. He used to say “God can do only one thing: love”.

People flocked to him because, when faced by a problem, he was able to suggest a broader view. He listened and answered with few words. He could speak to the heart. He attracted people who saw in him not just a man with answers but one who made them go deeper into things.

He was very much loved by people and formed deep and lasting bonds. Cardinal Francesco Montenegro, Archbishop of Agrigento, came to visit him a few weeks before he died. After staying with him about twenty minutes, he left with tears in his eyes, saying that his experience with Fr. Andrea in Messina, as a deacon, had greatly helped him and showed him the meaning of the mission; he was deeply grateful to Fr. Andrea.

When he was living in the house in Limone, he thought it narrow minded to speak only of Comboni. There was also the parish, the diocese and the Church. I have a catechesis of his which he gave to the catechists of Quinto Valpantena, entitled “I believe in the Church”: ten pages of deep reflections, substantial and stimulating. I remember on one occasion, when one of those present said “The Church is holy and also sinful” he replied: “No! The Church is only holy. The children of the Church are sinful!”.

He would start his talks with mention of Comboni and his holiness. “Welcome to this house which witnessed the birth of Blessed Daniel Comboni, one of the great apostles of Africa and the founder of our Comboni families. Our little community willingly and fraternally welcomes you but, most of all, Blessed Comboni welcomes you in the greatness of his spirit. This place is almost like a permanent sacrament of his invisible presence. To him, to his intercession, we entrust these two days that we are going to spend together. The aim of this Comboni house is to give the possibility to all our missionaries coming from all over the world to return to their roots and draw new energy to see if the fruits of missionary life comes from here”. Obedience was not his forte. This was evident when the possibility of living in Castel d’Azzano with the elderly and sick confreres was broached. One evening, he proposed to some confreres from Brescia to join him in putting pressure on the Superior against his transfer… He did not succeed. This may have been the reason why his change of residence was such a burden for some days.
(Fr. Renzo Piazza, mccj).
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 270 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2017,  pp. 149-152.