In Pace Christi

Fr. Gaetano Perrella, born in Marcianise, in the diocese of Caserta on 19 December 1920, entered the Comboni Missionaries when he was still very young. He made his first profession as a Brother on 2 February 1940. Six years later, on 2 February 1946, he took his perpetual vows. His first assignment was in Italy until 1948 when he was able to leave for the missions of South Sudan, where he stayed for 14 years.

In 1963 he was assigned to Brazil. He spent the first six years in the diocese of São Mateus under Bishop Giuseppe Dalvit. At the time the bishop was building some of the structures of the diocese, such as the seminary and the printing press. Bro. Gaetano was involved in the administration after having attended a course in accounting.

In those years, immediately after Vatican II, the Brothers were given the opportunity to study for the priesthood, and Bro. Gaetano decided, like other Brothers, to face the studies of philosophy and theology in preparation for the priesthood. He was assigned to Naples, where he attended classes at the school of theology from 1969 to 1973. He was ordained a priest on 22 December 1972.

Fr. Gaetano returned to Brazil in 1974 and remained there in the service of the procure of Rio de Janeiro until 1994. This procure was located on the grounds of the college of the Assumption Sisters and was at the service of both the Comboni provinces in Brazil.

Having returned to Italy for good, he was assigned to Casavatore (Naples) where he remained until the day the Lord called him to himself, on 24 May 2002. He exercised his ministry daily in the community chapel, which is open to the public, lately showing his regret that he had to leave to others what was keeping him in touch with the people.

Those who got to know him more closely during the last 30 years, bear witness to the fact that Fr. Gaetano gave himself to others with a generosity that was a characteristic of his family and regional heritage. He knew how to welcome all, confreres and local people, with kindness and understanding. His missionary formation had enriched him with new values by which he lived, especially the great kindness he showed his confreres at the procure of Rio de Janeiro. The procure was close to the favelas, where Fr. Gaetano used to go for his ministry and from where the poor and the pastoral agents of the small Christian communities would come to meet their friend.