In Pace Christi

“I declare that, when the Lord calls me, I wish to be buried where I die, in my place of work.” It was the wish expressed by Father Lodovico Bonomi, since March 1994. After exactly 30 years, he was buried in São José do Rio Preto, SP, where he lived from January 1997 to December 2001 and from 2009 until his death in 2024.

He was a novice in Gozzano (1959-1961), a scholastic in Crema (as a prefect, attended theology courses in the diocesan seminary) and Venegono, after his perpetual vows on 9^th September 1964, he was ordained a priest on 26^th June 1965. Intelligent, dynamic, creative, and strong-willed, he was immediately given the role of bursar in the Scholasticate of Venegono (VA).

In December 1967, he arrived in Brazil for the first time, to take over the leadership of the parish of Ecoporanga, in the north of the state of Espírito Santo, together with other Comboni missionaries.

After a year of work in vocational promotion (1973), in the Comboni seminary of Campo Erê, in the west of the state of Santa Catarina, Father Lodovico agreed to work in Rondônia, in the parish of Pimenta Bueno, which already has 30 thousand inhabitants, where “the large estates crush small properties” and there is no government plan to settle families in search of land and avoid conflicts in the occupation of large uncultivated areas. There are also the Larga Indians, who claim the area for their own survival. National groups from the South and large international companies begin to create conflict, occupying and exploiting Indian lands and stealing the natural riches of the Amazon Forest. In this way, the progressive erosion of Indian culture began.

From 1979 to 1984 and from 1988 to 1996, he worked in Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia. When, in 1982, Bishop João Batista Costa renounced the leadership of the diocese, Father Lodovico was elected episcopal vicar and took care of the diocese of Porto Velho until the arrival of the new bishop.

In 1984, he returned to Italy, where he spent a year in the community of Messina. In 1985, he returned to Brazil and took over the administration of the parish of Alto Paraíso, a municipality with a total area of 2,651 km². He also administered the parish of Jaru from 1985 to 1988. Shortly thereafter, he returned to the parish of Nossa Senhora das Graças in Porto Velho until 1996.

After a vacation in Italy, he was assigned to the community of São José do Rio Preto. In 1998 he became superior of the community and also took over the direction of the Social Work ‘São Judas Tadeu’. At the request of the provincial superior of the time, the construction of the Comboni House began (intended to accommodate the elderly and sick Comboni Missionaries) and, subsequently, of the parish house.

From October 2002 to the end of March 2003, he took time out at the provincial house of São Paolo. In April, the province took over the parish of Sant’Isidoro, in Alto Alegre, in the diocese of Roraima, almost on the border with Venezuela. The choice is motivated by the desire of the Comboni Missionaries to seriously resume pastoral care among the Indians. Father Ludovico and Father John Clark offered to go: the first as parish priest, the second as superior of the community; in 2005, they were joined by Brother Antonio Marchi. In 2008 the community moved to Boa Vista, but Father Ludovico continued to visit the Indians of Alto Alegre. At the end of 2009, he was reassigned to the community of São José do Rio Preto (SP) where he would remain.

Wherever Father Ludovico happened to live – leading parishes, sharing the life of different communities, or directing the ‘São Judas Tadeu’ Social Work – he earned everyone’s sympathy and respect.

Early in the morning, without fail, he would go to the bakery to buy bread and milk for his brothers. He would then prepare the table and help a little in the kitchen. Good-hearted, he helped the poor, giving them food and money. He also raised chickens to guarantee his confreres fresh eggs every day. He also kept a small vegetable garden for fresh vegetables.

Always present at the daily community prayer, he prepared his homilies well, commenting on the day’s readings.

Eventually, his health began to weaken. He was forced to undergo several operations on his throat, then also on his hip which he broke when he had a bad fall... He endured everything with holy resignation.

His suffering ended on Sunday, 14^th April 2024, when Sister Death came to take him, purified, and delivered him, resurrected, into the arms of the heavenly Father.

The people who knew him respected and loved him very much, and the poor mourned for him as for a father. (Father Enzo Santangelo, mccj)