Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) - On October 7 and 8 Holy Masses for the repose of the soul of Fr Antonio Bernasconi will be celebrated in Guatemala City, 40 days since his death. The Masses will be celebrated at the Eucharistic Shrine which Fr Bernasconi himself opened to promote deeper devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Priests and communities are invited to take part. Fides was informed by the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Guatemala.
Fr. Antonio Bernasconi, Italian Fidei Donum priest was appointed National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in 1999. Born at Olgiate-Comasco 22 May 1937, he was ordained a priest on 29 December 1968. On 3 March 1976 he went as a Fidei Donum missionary sent from the diocese of Frascati to the diocese of La Paz (Bolivia). For a few months he was involved in evangelisation and caring for native vocations. For reasons of health he was moved to Guatemala in 1977 where he remained for 30 years until his death. He joined other Italian priests to serve Maya communities. Later he was involved in the formation of local priests. His presence have impulse to seminary life and opened new horizons for the priesthood. In 1991 he was appointed secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Guatemala and in 1999 PMS National Director and confirmed in this service in 2004.
The ardour of his pastoral charity led him to engage in vocations pastoral, priestly pastoral and missionary pastoral. He organised "Prayer Schools" and National Meetings for Acolytes, and promoted integral formation for the laity, and Special Ministers of Holy Communion. He encouraged Eucharistic spirituality and opened a Eucharistic Shrine of which he was rector to encourage perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
His love for the Blessed Virgin Mother, venerated as Mother of Hope, led him to open in her honour Hope Hermitage in Santa Rosa Valley, to diffuse Marian spirituality and offer spiritual comfort to the sick. Besides being a place for prayer Hope Hermitage is also a formation centre for catechists and community leaders. He also opened a professional training centre for young people and for women nearby.
Taking inspiration from Bethany, next to the seminary he built Bethany House, for meetings, friendship, rest, brotherhood for many people, a house for prayer and a haven for priests and catechists in danger because of the faith in the years of violence. It was here that some of the country's important peace agreements were signed. It is also a centre for missionary animation where he served to the end as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and rector of the Eucharistic Shrine.
In May this year Fr. Bernasconi came to Rome for the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies. However he had trouble with his spine and was admitted to hospital for three months. He died on 29 August while family and friends were praying for him at Mass in the hospital chapel. In Guatemala as soon as people heard he was ill prayer chains were organised . When he died many Masses were celebrated for the repose of the soul of this Italian missionary priests deeply loved and respected by the people of Guatemala to whom he devoted 30 years of his life. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2007; righe 42, parole 583)
