In Pace Christi

We are all grieved and still in disbelief at the sudden death of a missionary so full of joy and enthusiasm. Today, together, we want to pray not for Fr. Ezio, but with Fr. Ezio. We pray to be able to receive the grace to imitate his human, Christian and missionary virtues.

Fr. Ezio did not like praise or "being incensed", but we must present some of his virtues, because Fr. Ezio was a good teacher of life and he left us many human, Christian and missionary examples.

He did his novitiate in Venegono, where he took his temporary vows on May 17, 1975. For the scholasticate, he was sent to Elstree. He took his perpetual vows on April 28, 1978, and two months later, on June 24, he was ordained a priest. Sent to Lebanon to study Arabic, in mid-1881 he was assigned to South Sudan and assigned to Rumbek as a religion teacher. We read in one of his recent writings: "I spent 23 years in South Sudan, a missionary experience marked by a constant situation of war and insecurity... During the years I lived in Italy I worked as a promoter of missionary vocations and in charge of the Comboni laity. For 9 years I was then in Milan administrator of our community of elderly, non-self-sufficient and sick missionaries, or rather, “veterans” of the mission! Since January 2022 I have been in Brescia, as treasurer of the community".

In his humility and simplicity, Fr. Ezio did not mention that he was also the national secretary of formation of the Comboni seminaries in Italy. Nor did he mention that he served two terms as Provincial Superior in South Sudan. Furthermore, he did not say that years ago, they thought of him as a future bishop of the diocese of Rumbek (South Sudan).

He was a good person, serene and sociable. He was considerate towards all. In Milan, as the administrator of our RSA, he gave elderly and sick missionaries the most effective medicine: time and listening.

A reconciler, a sincere and transparent man... not only due to his character or personality, but the fruit of a profound missionary spirituality.

A person with hands of gold: he liked technology, and we could rely on him regarding our computers, cell phones, motors, cars and electrical matters. He helped everyone, especially those of a certain age, who get confused in the mysterious labyrinths of cell phones.

A praying man, he was methodical in his schedule: he got up early, and at 5.30 he was already in the chapel for personal prayer, meditation and spiritual reading. He was an example for everyone.

A practical and cultured man: he read a lot. The study of biblical themes was his strong point lately. As a missionary in Sudan, he studied the history and traditions of that country. He knew a lot about Sudan. “Studying and knowing in order to love” was his thought.

A missionary in love first with Lebanon, then with Sudan. He loved people. He loved everything about Sudan, despite the problems of that beautiful nation.

Fr. Ezio was an authentic missionary, one of the thousand lives that Comboni wished to have in order to give them all to the mission. (Fr. Teresino Serra, mccj)