Fr Arturo Speziale, a PIME missionary for 48 years in Bangladesh
He worked in the parishes of Noakhali, Narikelbari, Mohammadpur, Manikgonj and Nobai Bottola. Through his preaching, many people have encountered Jesus Christ. “Love Jesus, because he is the true missionary, who left heaven for our salvation, who sacrificed his life for us”.
Rajshahi (AsiaNews) - Father Arturo Speziale, 79, an Italian missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priesthood in Bangladesh.
Fr Speziale was born in 1941 in the city of Sirda, in Italy. He is the ninth of 14 brothers and sisters. He was ordained a priest in 1970 and came to Bangladesh in 1972 on mission. During the 50 years of his priestly life, he joyfully worked as a missionary in Assisi, Italy, India and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh he worked in the parishes of Noakhali, Narikelbari, Mohammadpur, Manikgonj and Nobai Bottola. Through his preaching, many people have encountered Jesus Christ
He reflected on his missionary life with AsiaNews on how, while working in Narikelbari parish, he saw the prejudices of the Hindus. He recalled: “In a Christian wedding ceremony, many teachers from Hindu schools and influential people (about 80 in all) were invited. When the new wife put a spoonful of rice on each plate, all the Hindus, even the elementary and high school teachers, refused to take that meal, because they said the elders would accuse them of losing their caste. The servants had to throw away the rice and wash the plate again.” He preached the gospel among that type of Hindu and led many to listen.
Don Speziale worked in Noakhali for seven years. He reported that people have a strong sense of faith, but in recent times many have emigrated overseas, to the United States, Canada or Australia and to several cities in the country. He said: " I tried to build or improve some infrastructure in this parish, especially in the suburbs, in the villages of Laksmipur and Devipur, where I built two churches". In Noakhali, he fought legally to save a land annexed to the old Christian cemetery from illegal invasion. In the field of education, he has helped many students through sponsorship and also with personal financial help.
While working in the parish of Mohammadpur in Dhaka, he discovered that the Catholic faithful were scattered here and there in a large area, many had emigrated from their villages, they did not know that there was another church, which could spiritually heal their lives and salvation. He said: “I organized a survey involving a group of young students. We found up to 400 families. The discovery was good, but many families had problems: there was a need to regularize their marriages as a sacrament, to give baptism and other sacraments to their children. Then we organized a prayer service and a Holy Mass in various districts of Mohammadpur and other surrounding areas. "
Later Don Speziale moved to Manikgonj. People in the area face erosion from flood disasters, as a result they live on the street or on other people's land. Since 2004 he has tried to solve the problems of these landless people. He preached the gospel in this area among Hindus and Muslims, and many have come to know Jesus Christ.
Currently Fr. Apothecary works in the parish of Nobai Bottola in the diocese of Rajshahi.
Don Speziale described his vision of missionary work. He says: "Pope Francis insists that the Church should be outward bound, it should be present in the peripheries, that is, in places that are not only distant, but also difficult, between groups or communities that are neglected, problematic and that need to grow in Christian values and virtues. It is important to preach the word of God, where people do not have a priest always present. Even if this is not strictly evangelization or conversion of people to our religion, it is a work that makes people mature in Christian faith and virtues.”
He talked about his discovery of his religious life. He recalled that one of his brothers entered the minor seminary, which was then in Monza and continued his studies in Monza, then in Milan. “During his years of study when he returned home he talked about his life in the seminary, he had subscribed to two PIME missionary magazines: “Italia Missionaria ”and“ Le Missioni Cattoliche ”. When I was 10, I started reading these magazines with great interest, also because for me geography and history were very easy to learn and attracted my attention a lot. The description of the life of many missionaries attracted me very much ".
To the Asians who want to be PIME missionaries, Fr. Speziale recommends: “I want to tell them, love Jesus, because he is the true missionary, who left heaven for our salvation, who sacrificed his life for us. Jesus loved those who were sinners, to bring them to his Father, so that they could change their life ".
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02/08/2007
11/01/2020 09:17
