his Congregation and that of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence as well as
for the Guanellian laity.
He was the first Argentine priest of the Congregation of the Servants of
Charity and his departure to the house of the Father gives all of us the example
of a priest, punctual and passionate about his ministry, faithful always to his
duties as good religious. He leaves also a memory of his humanity. He was a
little bit like a soft griping grandfather coming to terms with modernity, but
always understanding with us youngsters, with that open and subdued smile
which conveyed to us his spiritual paternity.
If each grandfather is a gift of God to every family, Father Girolamo was a
significant presence in the Guanellian family, by calling and encouraging
everyone to faithfulness in living the charism and knowing to adapt it to today’s
challenges.
Personally, I had the grace of sharing with him many moments of my life,
especially during my novitiate in the years 2000-2001 and in the first semester of
2007, when I was preparing for the final profession and diaconate. I remember
also with lot of fondness his last moments of life, on June 26, 2007. After
community Mass, I took Communion to him, for which he prepared always with
a lot of devotion. Later I brought him breakfast and kept him company for a
while. He continued to counsel me. “Let always the Lord Jesus guide you, other
people are like traffic lights which help us to move, but our objective is doing
what He wants.”
Before I left his room, he said goodbye and expressed his disappointment
for not being able to be present at the ceremony of perpetual profession and
diaconate, scheduled for three days later. He gave me two holy cards of the
Virgin of Luján, one for Christian and one for me. I could not imagine that this
sign of affection was the last toward me. Half an hour later, one of the novices
came to inform me that Father Girolamo had died. He passed away in silence to
celebrate the eternal Mass in heaven.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Father Girolamo among us and for his
living message that it is possible to be faithful to you until death, spreading your
love in the world.
Today our house and the whole Congregation mourn his departure, but we
are consoled by the certainty that his open and benevolent smile accompanies us
from heaven.
Thank you, Father, for everything.
Father M
AURO
G
RAMAJO
Mrs. S
TELLA
M
ARIS
C
AO
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6. Father Ampelio Ambrogio
Alfeo Nardin
Born in Breda di Piave (TV) on December 7, 1940
Entered in Genova on February 12, 1958
Novitiate at Barza d’Ispra on September 12, 1958
First Profession at Barza d’Ispra on 12 September 1960
Final Profession at Barza d’Ispra on 24 September 1966
Priestly Ordination at Pero (TV) on 21 December 1968
Died at Angera (Hospital) on 7 August 2007
Rests in the cemetery of Ispra (VA)
He was born at Breda di Piave (TV), on December 7, 1940 to Vittorio and
Anita Momi. He became son of God with the Baptism on December 15, 1940 in
the Parish of Pero, and confirmed his faith in Christ Jesus with the sacrament of
Confirmation received at Paese, from Bishop Antonio Mantiero, on November
14, 1948.
He entered the Don Guanella Institute at Casa dell’Angelo in Genova Sestri
on February 12, 1958 where he lived the period of aspirancy. He went to the
house of Barza d’Ispra (VA) in September of that year for the novitiate and
philosophy, and here he made his first religious profession on September 24,
1960. He professed perpetually in our Congregation, always in the house of
Barza d’Ispra, on September 24, 1966.
He completed the philosophical and theological studies in our seminaries,
and was ordained priest in the Parish of Pero (Treviso), by Bishop Antonio
Mistrorigo on 21 December 21, 1968.
Father Ampelio carried out his pastoral service in three particular sectors of
our Guanellian mission:
• The first years of his priestly ministry as educator of the children in our
institutions of Duno (VA) and Albizzate (VA);
• The golden experience of his life in parish ministry. For 17 years, he was
pastor at the Madonna del Lavoro Parish in Bologna. From 1997 to 2000
at the parish of Corpus Domini in Florence and for two years assistant
pastor in the Santo Stefano d’Ungheria parish in Padua;
• As spiritual animator in our house of Barza d’Ispra.
In the year 2000, he was appointed parish priest at the St. Joseph Benedict
Cottolengo parish in Rome. It seemed that his long time dream of working in
Rome came true. However, his dream did not have a successful conclusion.
After a year in Rome, for health reasons he was transferred to the house of Barza
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d’Ispra (VA). In three years, he regained his physical and spiritual energy. With
new enthusiasm, from Barza he went for a new pastoral experience at the Santo
Stefano d’Ungheria Parish in Padua for two years. The obedience of the
Superiors on September 2006, wanted him once again as pastor at his beloved
Parish of Bologna. He accepted it, but once again, the cross of poor health,
heavier than before, entangles his life. He returned to the house of Barza where
his conditions appeared to be serious. He did not recover from the deadly
sickness of depression. God called him to the eternal peace on August 7, 2007.
His body rests in the hope of Resurrection together with other confreres in the
cemetery of Ispra (VA).
The funeral presided by the Most Rev. Luigi Stucchi, Auxiliary Bishop for
Varese, was solemnly celebrated the afternoon of Thursday, August 9, at the
Sacred Heart church in the house of Barza d’Ispra. Many confreres were present
and concelebrated the Eucharist of Resurrection. Sadness was visible on the
faces of his relatives who had assisted and helped him during his last years of
sickness! A large group of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence and many
laity who had known and appreciated Father Ampelio as a calm, joyful,
receptive man, a priest who added wings to the feet for the sacred ministry, were
also present.
The Bishop in his homily, expressed gratitude to Father Ampelio precisely
for his availability for the pastoral service in the territory of Ispra and Angera.
“Dear ones, the last image of our father Ampelio that remains in my heart is
exactly related to this church where we are paying our last respect, entrusting
him to the Lord of life, for ever. I fondly remember attending the anniversary of
the dedication and the beauty of a family celebration made by persons
consecrated to the Lord with the joy of belonging entirely to him, of belonging
together, in communion, for a better service to others, brothers and sisters, as
witnesses to the charity of the Lord.
Anyone who lives with this grace in his heart is a living sign of the Lord
and his church, wherever he is, and the people he meets. I would like to say
goodbye to Father Ampelio in this way and thank him in the name of all those to
whom he gave himself. I want to say thank you especially in the name of our
parish communities for which he was always available with a smile on his face,
with enthusiasm in his heart, the simple and courageous faith spreading thanks to
his warm and encouraging humanity.”
Father Giancarlo Schievano, Superior of the community in Barza, in his
eulogy at the end of the celebration, was quoting a familiar joke about Father
Ampelio’s desire to become bishop. “Father Ampelio loved to be a bishop.
Perhaps he nurtured in his heart the desire to become one, but today he is happy,
because a Bishop was officiating his funeral. He was happy and proud in saying
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