40th Anniversary of the death of Father Bernardo Longo

It was early in the morning of November 3, 1964, that Father Bernard Longo, SCJ, was murdered outside the town of Mambasa in the Congo. He served the people of that African country for more than 25 years. His death came after lengthy period of beatings and ill-treatment of every kind. Like Christ, he was pierced by a lance.

Father Longo projected the image of an old fashioned missionary. He was indefatigable in promoting culture as a means of progress and evangelization - his craftsmanship and the technical schools he founded are still well known. He was known for his constant prayer and fidelity to his two loves: the Eucharist and Mary. He loved deeply the pygmies he served and was poor with the poor and eager for the progress of all those who shared his mission in Nduye.

A few weeks prior to his death, Father Longo wrote in his diary:

During this period I am fortunate that the Sacred Heart of Jesus grants me internal peace and the grace of short prayers which give me the strength to push on. As evening comes on I walk over to the convent to assure the mission sisters that the Mother of God protects us and that we must entrust ourselves to the will of the Lord, even if it is His desire to bring us to heaven by the power of a bullet.

The parish community of Curtarolo in Padua, Italy, and the Northern Italian Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart dedicated an entire week to study the personality of this holy man. Part of the program included workshops on renewed missionary activity, on missionary animation in parishes and dioceses, and on vocations. A small photo-exhibition showing photos and souvenirs of Father Longo accompanied these days.

His Excellence Bishop Mattiazzo of Padua presided at the final Eucharistic celebration, assisted by the parish priest, the SCJ Superior Provincial and more than sixty priests, both SCJ and diocesan priests. The church was filled with religious and laity.

During his homily the Bishop addressed himself to young people, inviting them point blank to follow in the footsteps of their fellow-townsman, the Servant of God, Father Bernardo Longo, SCJ.