P. Primo Castelli
Antegnate (BG), 26 marzo 1932
Padang (Indonesia), 27 marzo 1972
Missionario morto tragicamente in Indonesia. Di anni 40. Sepolto a Padang - Indonesia
Primogenito di quattro figli, nacque ad Antegnate (BG) il 26.III.1932 in una famiglia operaia animata da fede cristiana.
Terminate le classi elementari lavorò a Milano per alcuni anni come tappezziere ed imbianchino riuscendo a farsi una buona esperienza pratica.
A 19 anni chiese ed ottenne di entrare nell'Istituto Missionario di Grumone (CR) tra le vocazioni adulte. Dopo gli anni del Ginnasio e del Noviziato, il 12.IX.1956 emise la sua prima Professione Religiosa ed il 28.X.1962 veniva ordinato Sacerdote a Parma.
Terminati gli studi, a 31 anni partiva missionario per l'Indonesia l’11.IX.1963. Dopo un periodo di lavoro pastorale diretto nei Distretti della Missione, venne nominato Rettore del Seminario Diocesano di Padang nell'Isola di Sumatra.
A Padang il 27.III.1972 accadde il fatto tragico della sua morte avvenuta per un errore involontario:
"... terminato di lavorare nel giardino, indubbiamente perché assetato, si accostava al frigorifero della Biara (Casa Religiosa), ne estraeva una bottiglia con la targa della birra ed ingoiava in fretta una sorsata. Si è sentito subito addosso uno stordimento: ha capito di aver bevuto qualcosa di orribile. Aveva bevuto un medicinale-veleno che teneva in casa per i fiori e che per un terribile sbaglio era finito poche ore prima nel frigorifero postovi dai Seminaristi che avevano pulito il frigo e, rimettendo a posto le bottiglie, vi avevano messo anche quella del veleno. Del tutto inutili si rivelarono le cure mediche che fu possibile praticargli solo tre quarti d'ora dopo che il P. Primo aveva per sbaglio ingerito la tremenda sostanza..." (Lettera di P. Piero Calvi, Padang 28.III.1972).
Fr. Primo Castelli
Antegnate (BG), 26 marzo 1932
Padang (Indonesia), 27 marzo 1972
Fr. Primo Castelli died of accidental poisoning on March 27 1972 at Padang (Indonesia). He had just celebrated the day before his 40th birthday, born on March 26 1932 at Antegnate (Bergamo).
Fr. Primo grew up in a Christian family, and worked for many years in Milan, after his elementary studies, as a painter and carpet installer. Primo was involved with talented and committed youth, while growing up: he animated the life of the parish, and was ever available for any service. His natural spirit of self-giving brought him to far-away horizons, thus embracing the missionary ideal. A confrere remembers his words, spoken a few years later: “I became a missionary because of love, leaving behind many things.”
At the age of 19, he asked to be admitted in the Xaverian community at Grumone (Cremona), specialized at that time for second career vocations. After some studies of Ginnasio and the Novitiate Year, he professed religious vows in our congregation on Sept. 12 1956, and was ordained priest on Oct. 28 1962.
At the end of his theology studies, Fr. Primo Castelli departed for Indonesia on Sept. 11 1963 where he worked in the Districts of the mission, and was later named Rector of the Diocesan Seminary of Padang, in Sumatra Island.
Unfortunately, an erroneous incident ended his life too soon. Here are the words from Fr. Piero Calvi, as he described his sudden death. “…After working in the garden, Fr. Primo went into the kitchen of the Biara (the Regional Domus) to have a beer, for he was thirsty. After he drank some, he realized it was not beer he drank, but a weed killer for the flowers of the garden. The fridge was, in fact, cleaned up in the morning by the Seminarians, and they put the bottles with the beer label inside it as they finished up the work. They also included the bottle with the weed killer, mistakenly labeled ‘beer,’ with that poison.
Useless was the medical emergency care applied to Fr. Primo, some 45 minutes later. The drinking of that deadly poison brought him to his death.” (Padang, March 28 1972).
“Our dear Fr. Primo died in a period of personal realization… He loved the missionary life, and he was a great example to others. The Lord took him home in the summit of his fulfilling missionary goal.
His death came too early, but it produced many copious fruits. In fact, the most beautiful fruits were maturing in Fr. Primo’s life through his life dedication to the missionary cause… Even today, among the beautiful things of the park at the Biara, we find his tomb, daily adorned with fresh flowers. His own seminarians and even strangers come to the park and daily bring a flower and share a prayer over the tomb of our dear Fr. Primo.” (Letter of Fr. Pietro Calvi, Apr. 14 1972).
