Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Patagonia (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of the Patagonia-Comahue region have addressed a Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Argentina in view of the beatification on 11 November 2007 of Zeffirino Namuncurá, in Chimpay (Río Nego - Patagonia Argentina), where Ceferino was born. The decree was signed by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 July 2007. The Bishops say they hope the event will "encourage Argentineans to follow the example of Zefferino, be more aware of God's presence in our history” and help the nation to “realise the value of the gift of the Christian faith and, like Zeffirino, take the Gospel seriously”.
Zeffirino Namuncurá, a young Amerindian from Chimpay, Valle Medio del Rio Negro, was born on 26 August 1886 and educated by the Salesian missionaries at the Pius IX College in Buenos Aires. He continued his studies in Viedma and then in Italy. While there in 1904, at the age of 17, he developed tuberculosis and died the following year on 11 May. In 1924 His body was brought back from Italy and laid to rest at the church of Our Lady help of Christians at Fortín Mercedes, Pedro Luro (Buenos Aires), which soon became a place of pilgrimage. The life of Zeffirino was marked by his origins which he never denied. A son of a tribal chief, he was proud of the traditions, culture and spiritual riches of his people. The cause for his beatification was opened in 1944.
The Bishops of Patagonia-Comahue present the figure of the future blessed in the cultural and historical context of Patagonia, where the Church was built up by tireless efforts of generous missionaries involved in education and human and Christian promotion, and social assistance and joined in their efforts by men and women of good will. The bishops describe his missionary activity was "walking with the poor people". They recall important elements in the life of Zeffirino, his way of being Christian enriched by the patrimony of his people. Zeffirino was baptised a Catholic, "a boy with a great heart and keen sensitivity, filled with compassion for the suffering and poverty of his people" he longed to be a priest and a missionary for his people. The desire grew stronger. He wished to follow Jesus Christ…his calling gave him the "strength to leave his people and study in the Italian and Latin languages". “He never stopped being a missionary” not even in hospital, the Bishops write in the Letter.
The Bishops say the life of Zeffirino is a message of "holiness lived in serious commitment to help his people … he took the Gospel as a way of life ". "In times of violence and crisis like today his example can teach us to be strong, and to have a heart and eyes which see the essential and overcome discrimination and violence. His integrity and firm opinions encourage us not to let ourselves be led by mean interests but to seek the common good". His life is a message for every young person in search of the true life. The Bishops conclude with a prayer for the intercession of Zeffirino: “that Catholics in Argentina may be disciples and missionaries, working together in brotherly communion to help everyone find God and his Word and life in Him”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2007; righe 42, parole 631)
