Bishop Marcello Palentini, our scj confrere and Ordinary of San Salvador de Jujuy (Argentina), from the very beginning of his episcopacy has been involved in the defense of the poorest people in his diocese. A number of times he has been asked to mediate between opposing groups. He is in complete solidarity with the other bishop of the province, the Claretian Bishop Olmedo Rivero, Prelate of Humahuaca.
The fact that he has been supported by the people has allowed him to take a very courageous and beneficial step forward by taking positions that differ from the ones adopted by local and national authorities. He views his attitude as inspired by the SCJ charism which has a particular sensitivity and meaningful commitment to the social order.
The diocese of Jujuy is 20,082 km. sq. with 527,141 inhabitants who are largely Catholic and are about 60% Indian. Multinational organizations have purchased and closed mining and sugar fields; as a result the population is undergoing great suffering due to the neoliberal policies that leave little room for social development and freedom. The bishop, as head of a number of solidarity organizations, has insisted on a "culture of solidarity" that permits a poor person to step up and take charge of his own development and liberation through work, peace, and Christian understanding.
At the pastoral level, Bishop Palentini has been promoting the NIP plan (New Vision of Parish) which calls for a 10 year program to allow base communities to grow and mature, not making use of small groups but rather on the mass of people who adhere to the Catholic faith and who are receiving suitable pastoral care. This was the very plan he used at General San Martin in the Chaco province when he was parish pastor for 11 years prior to being named bishop.
Last April 29, the city of Jujuy rewarded the Bishop for his work on behalf of the public welfare, bestowing the citizenship aware "San Salvador de Jujuy" a recognition in his person of the work done by the local church in its commitment to making society more human and seeking to reduce the terrible effects of the new economic order.
Missionary Meeting (BM)
The South Brazilian province held a meeting from 31 August to 3 September for the sake of "looking at and revitalizing the overseas missionary commitment". The meeting was in response to a request from the BM provincial assembly of October 1997.
Thirty-nine members took part, including Fr. Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva, general councilor, Br. Igino from the Congo, the missionaries Vilson Hobold, Mateus Buss, Airton Franzner, and a student religious (Erinaldo) from the North Brazilian province.
As the opening discourse, the provincial, Fr. Claudio Weber, listed the current reasons operative today in the Church of Brazil for a more intense missionary effort. He recalled certain facts from the missionary history of the province and highlighted the incentives, support, and requests from the General SCJ Administration on behalf of the missions.
To echo the seriousness of the General Administration toward missionary effort, the general councilor, Fr. Carlos Alberto, mentioned how the Congregation is looking toward the BM province as the hope of the missions.
A PIME missionary, Fr. Costanzo Donegana, led the discussions of the first day.
In preparation for the meeting the members of the province had received a survey on the topics to be treated. Fr. Nestor Eckert sought to do a sociological analysis of the answers received, an analysis which had already been sent to the participants. The second part of the meeting took place with the presentation of the results. There were interventions from the Regions and the various province missionary presences &endash; Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Congo, Cameroon, Philippines &endash; and the SCJ Youth Mission. These various presenters made some concrete proposals for missionary work which were then studied in work groups and debated in assembly. They will shortly be looked at by the provincial administration which will attempt to put them into practice. Here are some examples:
Fr. Aldo Marchesini has become a mission legend. Despite great personal danger he has emptied himself to benefit the neediest and poorest on the African continent and continues to do so to this day.
Born in 1941 in Bologna (Italy), he completed the program of study there required by the local Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. In 1962 he entered our Congregation and was ordained priest in 1969.
After obtaining his doctorate in medicine, he set about getting ready for a medical-missionary apostolate by attending courses in tropical diseases at Bologna and Lisbon. In 1972, he left for Africa. He spent two years in Uganda to specialize in surgery. In November 1974, he arrived in Mozambique and began his intense activity in the hospitals of Mocuba, Songo, Tete, and &endash; from 1981 till now &endash; at Quelimane.
While there he was witness to all the decisive events in the history of Mozambique, from the short-lived euphoria resulting from achieving Independence (1975) to the tragic experience of the civil war which scattered destruction and massacres throughout the country for more than ten years. Kidnapped and imprisoned a number of times by rival groups, he ran the risk of being killed. His life was spared because he was useful to all sides as a medical surgeon.
From October 1992 onwards, an atmosphere of reconciliation and peace has returned. Under such circumstances the work of Fr. Marchesini is greatly appreciated by the sick of every kind and in reestablishing hospital work. He is one of the most highly esteemed doctors in Mozambique. The mass media of Southern African generally refer to him as the "Doctor Schweitzer of Today".
Last August 5, Bahía de Caráquez in Ecuador was severely struck by an earthquake which reached seven on the Richter scale. We have had a few confreres there now for a few years.
Fr. Artemio Lopez made a point of sending the Superior General some clippings from the local paper with news and pictures showing the violence of the earthquake and its effects.
The newspaper article noted a single death, in large part due to a lighter first shock which allowed the people to remove themselves to safety. Damage, however, was immense and added greatly to the disadvantage of the people there who already live in great poverty.
The house which our men were building was also damaged. We express our solidarity with them.