Fr. Nazzareno Bramati, Lifelong Missionary in West Africa Passes Away

This morning, November 13, 2012, around 9:30 am, Father Nazzareno Bramati died  at the Mother House of the Xaverian Missionaries in Parma, Italy. He was 88 years old, born in Italy in 1924. He entered the seminary in 1935 and made his first vows in 1943. He was ordained to the missionary priesthood on February 20, 1950.

After ordination he was sent to Britain to study English and he earned the Diploma of the Colonial Course. In 1955 he was assigned to Sierra Leone, where he labored until 2006, , the mission to which it belonged until 2006. For more than 50 years he tirelessly worked in pastoral care of the new Diocese of Makeni, especially in Lunsar, Kabala, Makeni and Lungi.

We started out in the northern part of Sierra Leone where the population is predominantly Muslim and therefore the Gospel finds it hard to make inroads. There we concentrated our attention on schools, cooperatives, health care, and the victims of leprosy.

Unfortunately, since the civil war began in 1991 there has been countless number of deaths, indescribable atrocities and widespread destruction, both in the capital city and the most remote villages throughout the country. By December 1998, due to the political and military crisis and as a result of the rebel occupation of almost the entire northern region of the country, we had to abandon our parishes and missionary activity.
Slowly, with the assistance of many, Sierra Leone is rebuilding their country and the Church. For more information about our work there CLICK HERE.

Please pray for him and the young Church of Sierra Leone. Use our virtual pray space. If you would like to help Sierra Leone in other ways contact us here.