In Pace Christi

Fr. Ferdinando Moroni was born in Milan in 1941. At Vaiano, in 1951, he met Fr. Berto Zeziola and was won over by how he spoke of Daniele Comboni and his love for Christ and for Africa. He joined the Comboni Missionaries and was sent to Sunningdale, England, for his novitiate. He was ordained priest in Brescia on 15 June, 1968.

Having spent the first three years of his priestly life at the Comboni seminary of Crema, in October, 1971, he left for Uganda where he spent the rest of his days, except for the last few months.

On the 45^th anniversary of his ordination, he wrote: “I thank the Africans for all they gave me: friendship, serenity in difficulties, support and collaboration. In my area there is not a single family that had not had at least one of its dear members killed in the war. However, I have many examples of people who knew how to forgive and I thank them very much for this. In the meetings of the small Christian communities based on listening to the Word of God, I saw how the Word of God can change hearts. The rebels came here and robbed us as many as nine times. Despite this, the people are convinced that, if Our Lady had not helped us, things would have been much worse.”

For this reason was built a shrine to Our Lady to thank her for her protection. “We often have people who come on foot, making a pilgrimage, even from 30km away, and stay here for three days of prayer. I will conclude by giving you the example of Jeoffrey, a catechist. The rebels had killed his wife and son. He said to me: ‘Father, I suffered much because of this and I wanted to take revenge but Jesus, whom I receive every day, gave me the strength to forgive. Father, I cannot live without receiving Holy Communion’.”

Fr. Maurizio Balducci, who spent many years together with Fr. Ferdinando at the mission of Ngeta, five miles from the city of Lira, recalls: “I had the good fortune to live with Fr. Ferdinando from 2005 to 2011. I have no hesitation in saying that he was a confrere with whom everyone would have wanted to live. He was welcome personified and was always cordial towards all. The people were very fond of him because he was always welcoming towards the Ugandans, without distinction, and not only towards the Lango, whose language he spoke fluently. He always showed a great respect for all, even if he knew their faults. He would speak out clearly without humiliating anyone.

He was known to all as a playful and smiling person. We well remember the evenings spent with him on the veranda of the mission and his frequent loud laughter! He was pastorally modern and firmly believed in the training of catechists and leaders. Much of his work was on this line, even if the ordinary pastoral service of a large parish doubtless took up much of his time.

In recent times he had to go back to Italy for check-ups with his luggage full of heart and diabetes medicine. He sometimes had bad attacks of malaria which altered his sugar levels, causing some concern but still he would always insist on going on safari among his people. Many people were surprised and wept at his death as if Fr. Moroni, being a reference point, ought never to have died.

We gratefully recognise all he did for the diocese of Lira which he never wanted to leave; how hard it was for him to agree to return to Italy because of his poor health.

His name and memory will certainly remain for considerable time in Alanyi, Dokolo, Aliwang, Ngeta, Iceme and in the entire Lira diocese.”
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 274 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2018, p. 12-16.