Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - On February 12 the Capuchin community in Conegliano nel Veneto celebrated the 100 birthday of Father Alberto Bertoldo, the most senior Capuchin in the world. “Father Alberto wins hearts with his smile, his readiness to help and his concern for others” Capuchin Father Giuseppe Priante told Fides. Father Alberto was a missionary in Ethiopia and in Angola, with an interval of ten years in the region of Venice where he was superior of a various different monasteries.
“Father Alberto began his missionary activity in 1937 in Ethiopia” Father Giuseppe told Fides. “In 1942 when Britain occupied Ethiopia he was sent to a concentration camp in what was then Southern Rhodesia, today Zimbabwe. As civilians he and his confreres could have been sent back to Italy, but they chose to stay and share the hardship of the other prisoners and to offer them spiritual assistance”.
After the war Father Alberto returned to Italy but by then he was stricken with “Africa Sickness”. So in 1960, at the age of 55 he was given permission by his superiors to go on mission to Angola serving in the capital Luanda from 1960 to 1989, when for health reasons he had to return to Italy. “Father Alberto served in the first Capuchin missionary parish Saint Paul’s and then in the parish of Fatima. With his flowing long, white beard, he was held in high esteem for his readiness to help and special charisma.” Father Giuseppe said. “Father Alberto has always had deep respect for others, this was clear from the way he prepared before he preached. His profound spirituality was recognised by many priests who chose him for confessor ”.
“In Luanda Father Alberto and his confreres promoted the growth of the local Church. Many parishes in Luanda, ten at least, were opened by Capuchin missionaries” said Father Giuseppe. “From the parish of Saint Paul which they founded and which became a diocesan parish in the 1980s the Capuchin fathers would set out on foot to other parts of the city. Gradually they formed small communities of believers which then became parishes”.
“Our order has been present in Angola since 1948 and has 12 mission parishes all over the country. The fact that Capuchins have deep roots in Angola is demonstrated by Angola’s five Capuchin Bishops” said Father Paolo, adding: “Our missionaries never left Angola even at the most difficult times. In 1961 when the war for independence from Portugal started at first missionaries were seen to be on the side of the colonial authorities. Although sad to say two of our fathers were killed, none of the others left their mission. They stayed to bear witness to the Gospel and to stand by the people. The same happened in 1975 with the outbreak of civil war. Three Capuchins were assassinated but this did not stop us from continuing our mission. In the end they realised that all we wanted was to offer spiritual and material assistance to the people. Very often the missionary is the only point of reference for the local people in a war torn country, the rural areas in particular” .
Born in Dueville Vicenza, Italy, on 13 February 1905 and baptised Giuseppe, as a young boy Father Alberto entered the seminary at Rovigo. On 19 February 1928, in Venice he was ordained a priest by Archbishop. Pietro La Fontaine. Before the outbreak of World War I he was a teacher, editor of a Franciscan publication and acted as a guide for many lay Franciscans. After returning to Italy in 1989, Father Alberto served as a priest at Schio, one of the oldest little churches entrusted to the Capuchin Fathers in the area of Venice, until he was transferred to the Capuchin Infirmary at Conegliano in 1998. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/2/2005 righe 50 parole 663)
