AFRICA/SWAZILAND - Letter from the African forest: Italian missionary Father Angelo Ciccone fifty years of giving lepers love and hope

Friday, 28 May 2004

Mzimpofu (Fides Service) - The precarious conditions which missionaries face in the mission territory to which they are called does not undermine their determination to serve their brothers and sisters in need, indeed they are spurred by these conditions. Recently Fides received a letter from Italian missionary Father Angelo Ciccone who has worked among people suffering from leprosy and other serious diseases for fifty years. We have often asked Father Ciccone to tell us about his work and at last he has. Here is what he has to say:
“I was unable to reply immediately to your e-mail because I was in paradise, that is I was on a visit to my leper friends and when I am with them it is like being in paradise and I forget everything else!
I work in Swaziland to help people with disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS and I have started a new programme to help lepers in Massvelene forest in the Xai-Xai of Mozambique. The day I signed the contract at the Italian embassy I was very tired. On the way home I fell asleep in the forest of Nomahiiasha. Since then I walk with crutches and … I am not as good looking as I used to be! I have been working with people with disabilities for fifty years and I last I have a degree in disability! But I still have the faith and courage to continue my work to assist lepers.
Now I have two good catechists to help me, a former women religious and a widower for whom I am trying to build a small hut with four straight green canes at the four corners and a roof of tin. Teresa will teach the children and the adults and distribute medicine; Florencio, the catechist, will teach ploughing, basket weaving and cooking etc.
I ask for nothing except your prayers for this community. On June 7 I will return to paradise among my lepers…where I will hold a big meeting of the people living in the forest of Massvelene”, Father Ciccone concludes.
This letter speaks of only one of the many tasks which missionaries undertake with joy, discovering that truly ‘paradise’ is found in helping others. It is Christian love which spurs these extraordinary people to face all kinds of dangers and difficulties to help those in need.
Fides Service intends to accompany Father Ciccone and many others who do not make the headlines but continue with courage and perseverance to bring Christian hope and love to those most in need on our planet. (AP) (28/5/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:37; Parole:497)


Share: