Comboni Martyrs

"There is no greater love then to give one's life for one's friends" (Jn. 15:13)

Comboni Missionaries who have shed their blood for Christ

Fr. Alfredo Delai (+1941)
He died aged 28, he had blue eyes, was always wearing a soft smile and had a gentle and reserved personality

Fr. Angelo Arpe (+ 1946)
He dreamt of a Christian Africa, with its Bishops, Priests and Christian Communities. He often sang, as his heart was full of joy

Fr. Luigi Corsini (+ 1963)
Fr. Luigi was so convinced that he could not be a good missionary that he prayed, "Lord, I am good for nothing: take me with you"

Fr. Remo Armani (+ 1964)
Fr. Remo was killed by the Simba rebels at the early age of 47 and yet he had already accomplished so much for the Church in Africa

Fr. Lorenzo Piazza (+1964)
He loved poetry and people afflicted with leprosy. At the age of eleven he predicted his own martyrdom

Fr. Evaristo Migotti (+ 1964)
To his mother: "If the Lord asked me to die as a martyr, I would feel unworthy of that grace"

Fr. Antonio Zuccali (+ 1964)
He had vowed to build a leprosy hospital in Africa. Leaving for Congo he said: "I shall not come back"

Fr. Barnaba Deng (+ 1965)
The Denka, Fr. Barnaba's tribe used to confront a lion with only a lance, when it became a threat to the herd

Fr. Marco Vedovato (+ 1968)
He was born to be a missionary, nothing could dissuade him from pursuing his vocation

Fr. Joseph Santi (+ 1979)
Fr. Joseph was murdered by Amin's soldiers in the afternoon of Holy Saturday

Fr. Antonio Fiorante (+ 1979)
To his friends he was "son of thunder" because of his fiery character, after the nickname Jesus gave the apostles James and John

Fr. Silvio Dal Maso (+ 1979)
Fr. Silvio was always respectful and affable to all, very humble and always answered with a smile

Fr. Silvio Serri (+ 1979)
In those terrible and dangerous months Fr. Silvio had told his parishioners, "I will remain with you, no matter what"

Fr. Osmundo Bilbao (+ 1982)
A victim the lawlessness that reigned in Uganda towards the end of Amin's regime in the early 80s

Fr. Ezekiel Ramin (+ 1985)
A few days after Fr. Ezekiel's murder, Pope John Paul II called him "a martyr of charity"

Fr. Egidio Ferracin (+ 1987)
Fr. Egidio kept saying: "Beat me up, if you wish, but let those people go"...

Fr. Egidio Biscaro (+ 1990)
Fr. Egidio was shot dead on the road to the hospital where he was taking a sick woman

Fr. William Nyadru (+ 1991)
Fr. William, priest, victim, missionary of the gospel, martyr with Christ for his brothers and sisters

Bro. Alfredo Fiorini (+ 1992)
The local Bishop presiding over the funeral mass said: "How can we fail to liken Alfredo's sacrifice to that of the martyrs?"

Fr. Raphael di Bari (+ 2000)
Fr. Raphael wanted to share the life of his people, even at the risk of his life, aware that his missionary vocation was asking this

Fr. Mario Mantovani (+ 2003)
Fr. Mario was nicknamed by the Karimojong "Apalongor" which means "bull of an ash grey colour"

Bro. Godfrey Kiryowa (+ 2003)
The blood shed in Karamoja by Bro. Godfrey becomes a strong symbol of the fruitfulness of the Comboni charism in Africa

Fr. Luciano Fulvi (+ 2004)
Love and sacrifice give birth to life. That is precisely what Fr. Luciano has done all his life