To the man of the Gospel who asked if only a few would be saved, Jesus
answered to take care not to remain outside the eternal banquet hall. The time for
deciding to enter, is always short. Today you may have it; perhaps tomorrow it
may be too late!
The master could close the door any time for ever, and what a paradox to
see that those who were excluded, are not always the traditional enemies of the
salvation, as we are used to think, but precisely some of the ones who heard
Jesus’ words.
The reason of their condemnation is not their ignorance of Christ, but their
lack of commitment to their duty as Christian, priests or religious. The faith in
fact, as Pope Benedict XVI repeatedly affirms, is not just the knowledge of
Christ, or a theory or theology, but it is above all a meeting with a person, an
experience of life, lived in consonance with the life of Jesus.
In applying today’s Gospel to our brother Father Ermes, we could
emphasize at least two aspects of his life that could become his spiritual
patrimony for all of us, confreres and friends:
1) He was able to recognize the action of God in him as the true motor of
his existence.
He recognized the primacy of God in his life.
He was a true priest, witness of the absolute of God in his words, in his
behavior, in the ministry of charity among the least and even in the dress. We
saw him rarely without the cassock.
The Pastoral Plan of our Congregation for this year exhorts us, to rekindle
the gift of our ministerial priesthood, given to us without our merit, but as gift
from the Providence of God.
We are called to “believe in the power of the priesthood, many times
suffocated in us also by a secular mentality,” to relate with Jesus as his “friends”
rather than his “servants.” The Lord wants us as friends ( Jn. 15, 15), to place our
consecrated hands at God’s disposal so He can reach our brothers with his grace
through us.
I believe that Father Ermes witnessed all of these aspects. I remember him
very well as prefect of discipline at the minor seminary in Anzano del Parco, the
first fruits of his priestly ministry. He truly succeeded in giving us the feeling of
his ministry lived with distinction.
I greatly appreciated Father Ermes’ qualities such as his kindness, his
patience with us boys, the gentleness in reminding us our duties of students and
seminarians; his interventions about doctrine and Christian wisdom.
His intuition in seeing the necessity and the urgency of changing certain
outdated educational practices and methods in the seminary was remarkable. At
the same time, he possessed the prudence of not moving too fast.
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He was able to balance the expectations of us seminarians with some
lingering old norms and with some people, whose traditional views did not
permit any change at all. This memory may appear menial, but it is very
important to focus more on how we boys lived and perceived that period rather
than on the event itself.
I still remember it as his and our success, when the seminarians were
allowed to wear sweat suits (then forbidden) for sports.
Years later, I was already a confrere and priest, anytime I met him, I was
always touched by his words and his modesty, and I always loved him as a
father.
2) He witnessed among us the virtue of humility. He was reserved and
avoided appearances, exhibitions, and being the focus of attention. Sometimes,
on occasions, he had no other choice.
Think, for instance, about the reputation and trust Mrs. Grassi, of the Casa
di Gino, had for him! This relationship had rewarding moments, but also of
suffering, of solitude, for the difficulty of pulling others in the circle, including
the superiors. He remained alone in managing the difficult situation with all its
contradictions.
However, he was always a balanced man. Where did he get the serenity that
appeared always in his contacts with the confreres, the residents of the Casa di
Gino and the laity?
I have no doubt that the serenity of Father Ermes flowed from his
faithfulness to God as priest and religious.
I found in the archives beautiful and significant information about him,
including his personal letters that clearly express his desire to serve the Lord as
Guanellian priest. I would like to quote two of them.
a) In the application letter, accompanied by a completed questionnaire, his
pastor father Romolo Cavorrana, replied to father Antonio Fontana with this
striking image: the young Ermes is a “glowing light.”
The same pastor added a footnote PS:
“I beg you to accept him despite his father disagreement. He is a true
vocation. He would be a holy priest. I would commit myself to provide for him,
in case his father refuses. He is a true winner. Call him soon into your garden.
God wants him!” (Father Romolo Cavorrana, Pontecasole, May 26, 1951).
b) From Stra, young Ermes wrote a beautiful letter to father Antonio
Fontana, director of the seminary of Anzano del Parco (CO), on June 10, 1951.
In his letter, he manifests his anxious desire of entering our Congregation and
the indirect consent of his own father to go to the seminary.
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“I am here alone, awaiting Ruggero who promised me to come here. A few
minutes ago, I told my dad that I have already sent the application form. He
grunted a little bit and told me to wait until next year, when I would finish my
studies, in such a way that if I did not become a priest, at least, I had a degree. I
said that nothing was lost and even if I do not succeed, I could always continue
my studies. Therefore, I requested him to allow me to come there. He was silent.
Anyway, I believe that we are a step ahead. Time is running and the day is near.
The day I visited there, before returning, I promised Our Lady, who is on the
Altar of our Church, that I would see her again, that I would come back. I would
come truly! Well, she will help me from there, bless me and remember me
because I need her greatly. Thank you whole-heartedly! Affectionate greetings.
Yours Obediently. Ermes Boran”.
As Family of Blessed Louis Guanella, what can we say to Father Ermes at
the end of his earthly pilgrimage? We are grateful to you for what you were as
man and as Guanellian, and for all that you witnessed in an eloquent way with
your life.
We are also proud of you as confrere and faith journey companion until
now; and from now on, as an example to imitate. You always loved your
religious family, help us from heaven with your intercession to the Heavenly
Father.
And with you, dear father Ermes, we pray once again here on the earth
“Lord Jesus Christ, we heard clearly the words of the Gospel, “Strive to enter
through the narrow door.” We, the religious Family of our brother priest, Father
Ermes, deliver him into your hands. We commit ourselves, with renewed fervor,
to follow the path that leads to you. Inflame us with your love so that we are
always open, confident and faithful to your grace. Amen!”
From the eulogy of Father Umberto Brugnoni
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10. Father Germano Pegoraro
Born in Thiene (VI) on October30, 1923
Entered at Barza d’Ispra (VA) on October 4, 1944
Novitiate at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1945
First Profession at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1947
Final Profession at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1950
Priestly Ordination in Milan on June 17, 1952
Died in Como on December 12, 2007
Rests in the cemetery of Thiene (VI)
Remembering a person we respect, love and appreciate, takes us beyond the
borders marking the temporal boundaries of his human experience.
Remembering Fr. Germano Pegoraro will take us back through his life, beyond
boundaries, to discover and understand the moving force, which marked his
human and spiritual adventure.
He was born in 1923 in Thiene, Italy, the hometown of the holy priest, St.
Cajetan, who in the 16th Century dedicated his life to the care of orphaned and
abandoned children. Fr. Germano was ordained priest in1952 by Blessed
Cardinal Ildefonso Shuster, for whom he nurtured great reverence. In 1960, his
Superiors asked him to join the first group of Servants of Charity who were
working in the United States. They were the pioneers of the Congregation,
bringing to the Local Church the Guanellian Charism, caring for mentally
impaired children in Chelsea, Michigan and Springfield, Pennsylvania. Fr.
Germano died in Como, Italy on December 12, 2007 in the Motherhouse
founded by Blessed Louis Guanella.
He live the last years of his life near the very altar where the precious relic
of Blessed Guanella’s mortal body is venerated. He was laid to rest in his home
town where he awaits the resurrection while his soul was commended to the
loving mercy of God. Thinking of his human and spiritual experience, it
becomes clear and understandable how the events which marked his youth, were
fertile ground onto which God showered his graces and helped him throughout
the 55 years of his priestly journey.
Orphaned since his infancy and thirsty for love, he recalled how his saintly
mother sustained him and encouraged him to be faithful and perseverant on his
way to becoming a priest.
The trust of his formators and superiors, his artistic creativity, and his
eagerness for adventures, together with the supernatural gifts from the Lord,
made him able to accept and persevere in the roles he was called to play in his
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ministry with those in need. It is easy to realize now that the priesthood of Fr.
Germano has been sustained and protected by St. Joseph.
He never forgot his earlier years of ministry in Rome, at the Church of St.
Joseph, Patron of the Suffering and Dying, which Blessed Louis Guanella built
to honor his friend, Pope Pius X, whose name was Joseph. Fr. Germano died on
Wednesday, December 12, 2007, the day of the week that Catholic religious
tradition dedicates to St. Joseph. The news of his death reached the devotees of
St. Joseph while adoring the Blessed Sacrament in the Shrine.
He established this day of adoration so that, adoring Jesus in the Eucharist,
we could pray for all members of the Pious Union of St. Joseph, asking God to
bless the Church and St. Joseph to intercede for the suffering and dying. Writers
could indulge their imagination by describing in a book of adventures the
successful and unsuccessful events of Fr. Germano’s life as a pastor, educator of
youth and seminarians, administrator of the facilities for young mentally
impaired children, driver, painter, entertainer, and so on to his last enterprise. He
started the U.S. branch of the international religious Archconfraternity of the
Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Suffering and Dying. In trial and tribulation, he
loved to remember that St. Joseph obtained for him from God the grace to hope
and to dream.
Affected by physical and spiritual trials, Fr. Germano found new energy
and encouragement in dreaming of something that could become a sign of the
merciful love of God and the protection of St. Joseph. Inspired by the Holy
Spirit and helped by St. Joseph, led by the example of Blessed Louis Guanella
and his experience of suffering, Fr. Germano was ready to begin the Pious Union
of St. Joseph in the U.S. He even dreamt of building a National Shrine in Honor
of St. Joseph, Patron of the Suffering and Dying.
He started to run and to spread this idea. He found people who supported
his dreams and benefactors to make them come true. He did not draw back in the
face of objections and irony or those who doubted his capacity. The Bishop of
Lansing, Most Rev. Kenneth Povish, believed in him, sustained him, gave him
his cooperation and by Episcopal Decree granted his approval for the institution
of the Pious Union of St. Joseph in his Diocese on August 3, 1987, becoming,
himself, the first member. Since that beginning, nobody could stop Fr. Germano.
Two times, he was invited by Mother Angelica to talk to the audience of EWTN
about the mission of the Pious Union.
Through this channel, thousands of devotees of St. Joseph asked to be
enrolled in the Pious Union, offering prayers, suffering and sacrifices for the
eternal salvation of the dying.
Through the magazine, Now and at the Hour, he reached all the States of
the Union offering his cooperation for the evangelization and spiritual support of
suffering people.
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Waiting for the construction of the “Basilica” of St. Joseph, he wanted to
remodel an old dairy barn, transforming it into a “Basilichetta,” small basilica, to
express his gratitude to St. Joseph.
Here he began his ministry of faith, mercy and love radiating his message
of trust in, and devotion to St. Joseph.
Major health problems forced Fr. Germano to return to Italy in January
2005, but his heart remained here, near his little “Basilica” of St. Joseph.
Now his memory is with us and from Heaven, near to St. Joseph, he helps
us with his prayer. Fr. Germano did not have little brothers and sisters. A sister
he never knew died when she was just an infant. He loved children and the
children returned his love considering him like a grandfather. Jesus tells us that
if we do not become like children we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Rest
in peace Fr. Germano, with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the family who adopted you
and with whom you will rejoice forever.
Father P
AOLO
O
GGIONI
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