Fr. Mario Celli, Missionary to Africa and Brazil, Passes Away
On May 4, 2012, the Xaverian Missionary, Fr. Mario Celli died at S. Luis S. Paolo (Brazil), around 8 am. He was 68 years old, being born at Monte Porzio Catone (Rome) on 7.12.1943.
He joined the our missionary institute in Nizza Monferrato in 1964, made hia vows on March 10, 1965 at Parma, and was ordained to the priesthood in Monteporzio.
After his ordination he was assigned to the mission Burundi, Africa where he served in Murago and Kigwena, then Luvungi to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There he fled with Burundi refugees because of the war, and finally arrived at Rumonge in Burundi.
In the period 1978-81 he was part of the community of CSAM, a media project established in Italy for global education.
In 1981 he left for the mission in southern Brazil.
where he was able to combine pastoral service and mass media activity. .He was pastor at Itaquera (81-85) and in S. Paul-Brasilandia (90-98).
In 1998 he returned to Italy for medical care and rest. In January 2010 he returned to Brazil as a missionary animator S. Paul-Vila Mariana.
We pray for this extraordinary missionary who spent his life for the mission of the Church. May he rest in peace.
