“The spirit of Father Giovanni is great and such will be his presence and he
has shown it to all during these three evenings of “prayer vigil” during which his
presence was perceived. This physical loss of Father Giovanni for me is painful
and definitive.
This makes me hope that the next spiritual meeting with him would be
joyous and definitive.”
Marcello Parsi
“On Wednesday 14, I came to know that Father Giovanni had passed away
the day before. The news left me in great distress.
That afternoon I went to the Bacciarini Hall to pay my last respects to a
dear friend and spiritual father. It is difficult to describe what I felt in seeing the
dead body of a dear person. I lifted my eyes and saw the image of Father
Giovanni smiling, the same smile, which he had on many occasions and
understood that he wanted to be remembered thus: smiling at life and the
neighbor, smiling by the side of the Lord.
On the day of his funeral, a man distributed the memorial holy card of
Father Giovanni, mostly to women with mobility problems. I wanted one card,
but nothing was left. I asked within myself to Father Giovanni to give me one
last smile and came out from the Church.
Outside the Church, there was a group of sisters. One sister had two cards
of father Giovanni. I asked her if I could take a photo of the card with my mobile
phone, but she gave me one. Lo! Father Giovanni gifted me with his last smile.”
Giorgio Sportello
The memorial holy card
Man, priest, Guanellian,
cherished work, determination and the honesty
of the Molise people and his family.
Faithful to the Church,
authentic son of Father Guanella, educator and generous pastor,
gave whole of himself to the youth,
the families and the poor.
God will have him as dear and beloved son
in his Kingdom of life and joy.
Edited by Father N
INO
M
ASSARA
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2. Father Amanzio Abram
Born in Mese (SO) on November 19, 1923
Entered at Fara Novarese on October 3, 1935
Novitiate at Barza d’Ispra (VA) on September 12, 1940
First Profession at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1942
Final Profession at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1945
Priestly Ordination at Amalfi (SA) on May 22, 1948
Died in Nuova Olonio on March 26, 2007
Rests in the cemetery of Mese (SO)
Father Amanzio Abram was born at Mese (SO), near Chiavenna and
therefore the Spluga valley, the native valley of Blessed Louis Guanella, on
November 19, 1923 and received the sacraments of Baptism on November 22,
1923 and Confirmation on May 9, 1933 in the parish of St. Vittore.
He was a postulant at the seminary in Fara Novarese for six months from
March 12, 1940.
He entered at Barza d’Ispra for the two years of novitiate in September, at
the end of which he made the first religious profession on September 12, 1942.
He made the final profession three years later. He completed the first part of his
theological studies at Fara Novarese from 1944 and the second part from 1946 at
Amalfi, where he was ordained priest on May 22, 1948. During his theological
studies, he helped as educator the seminarians of Fara and then the boys of
Amalfi.
We remember him for his ability to make discipline tolerable and
even likeable, a discipline that was particularly severe during those times. This
was certainly due to the goodness of his heart, which would characterize his
entire life.
The superiors appointed him as educator for his ability of mind and heart,
first in the minor seminary of Fara Novarese for ten years and then in that of
Anzano del Parco (Como). He was vice rector for the first five years and then
local councilor, teacher and educator from 1953 to 1958. It was no wonder that
he spent the following six years as Superior of the Institute. Every one said that
he fulfilled his office with the usual intelligence, goodness and understanding.
At the end of the second three-year term as rector, the superiors, taking into
consideration his excellent qualities, appointed him prefect of studies in our
theological seminary of Chiavenna. He remained there for one year and then
returned as teacher to Anzano for seven more years. He always volunteered to
assist in the priestly ministry wherever they requested his help.
He was admirably obedient to the will of the superiors. We find him as a
spiritual assistant for a year (1972-73) at the Institute St. Luigi in Albizzate. He
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was with our sisters at the Casa Beato Luigi Guanella in Milan for six years,
then four years at Feltre and at St. Cajetan in Milan for two years. Perhaps, these
years were difficult for him, also because of his health and hearing loss, but he
never complained with any one about it.
He was happy to return to Anzano del Parco for eight more years. It might
have appeared to him a desert as compared the previous experiences, so much
animated by many good boys. In return, he found serenity and peace, dedicating
himself to pastoral ministry.
Father Amanzio spent almost thirty years of his priestly life in that house,
which, unfortunately we had to abandon!
His life was truly filled with activities and he never refused work, but he
had still the last energies to spend. So, for thirteen years, he offered himself as
zealous chaplain of the St. Chiara nursing home for retired sisters, at Albese
(CO) from 1993 to 2006.
Father Amanzio, eighty three year old, tired but alert, on February 21, 2006
reached Casa Madonna del Lavoro, close to his native place and relatives, for a
deserved rest. He edified the confreres, the residents and the workers of the
house until the end with his simplicity, humility and his profound spirit of
prayer.
He left us returning to the house of the Father on March 26, 2007.
Now the moment has come to tell the beautiful memories about him. No
one could do that better than his dear and affectionate nephew and our confrere,
Father Luigi De Giambattista, elected recently as Provincial superior of the
Divine Providence Province comprising United States, Philippines and India.
Father Luigi sent this message from the Philippines, extremely disappointed for
not being able to attend the funeral. He wrote: “First of all thank you, O Lord,
for having given us Father Amanzio, as brother, uncle, relative, confrere, master,
friend, guide and father...
Thank you for having placed him along our journey, as your priest, sign
and instrument of your love and your Providence!
Thank you for having called him to spend the life as Servant of Charity, in
various places, with different tasks, but always a faithful disciple, son of Blessed
Louis Guanella, generous dispenser and credible witness of your infinite
goodness and mercy.
After thanking the Lord, allow me, dear uncle, to express my “Thanks”
directly to you. I have lot of reasons to be profoundly grateful to you. Thank you
for having poured on me the Baptismal water and with it the great grace of the
love of God and Christian life. Thank you for having helped me most with the
example than with preaching to walk with confidence and courage on the way of
the Gospel, by welcoming and developing the beautiful gift of the priestly and
Guanellian vocation. You spent most fruitful years of your apostolate amidst the
youth in our seminaries. Continue to pray for those who are called to the service
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