P. Antonio Sartori
Roncadello di Casalmaggiore (CR) 9 Luglio 1878
Cheng-chow (Cina) 5 Novembre 1924
Nacque a Roncadello di Casalmaggiore (CR) il 9.VII.1878; compiuti gli Studi Ginnasiali nel Seminario di Cremona, passò poi nel Seminario Maggiore di Parma.
A 21 anni, il I.XI.1899 entrava nell'Istituto Saveriano: due anni dopo veniva ordinato Sacerdote il 29.VI.1901, e di lì a pochi mesi emetteva la Professione Religiosa.
I primi quattro anni di sacerdozio lo videro Cappellano del Riformatorio "Lambruschini" della Certosa di Parma ed Assistente dell'Educandato del Buon Pastore.
A 26 anni, il 18.1.1904 partiva per la Cina con la seconda spedizione saveriana, assieme ai PP. L. Calza, Bonardi, Brambilla: li accompagna il Vicario Apostolico Mons. Simone Volonteri del P.I.M.E.
In Cina, fu destinato successivamente alle Cristianità di Può-ceng, Wu-Yang, Lu-Shan, Zuchow, Honanfu.
Dopo sette anni, richiamato in Italia, nel 1911, fu eletto Direttore Spirituale dell'Istituto Saveriano, costituito allora dall'unica Comunità della Casa Madre di Parma. Scoppiata la guerra mondiale, venne nominato nel 1915 Tenente Cappellano Militare nell'Ospedale da Campo 0.36; con la stessa qualifica opera poi a Parma negli Ospedali Militari del Seminario, dei Collegi Maria Luigia, di S. Benedetto e delle Scuole F. Cavallotti.
Terminata la guerra per alcuni anni ricoprì l'ufficio di Direttore dell'Unione Missionaria del Clero Diocesana.
Dal I.X.1919 è Rettore della nuova Scuola Apostolica Saveriana di Vicenza, dopo averne espletato con pazienza ed intelligenza le pratiche per l'apertura.
Ripartito di nuovo per la Cina, il 4.1.1922, lavorò come Pro-Vicario di Mons. Calza nel Vicariato Apostolico di Cheng-chow, visitando più volte le località missionarie ove operavano i Confratelli.
Colpito da congestione polmonare e poi da doppia polmonite, a 46 anni, moriva il mattino del 5.XI.1924, assistito dal Vescovo e dai Confratelli della Missione di Cheng-chow.
Fr. Antonio Sartori
Roncadello di Casalmaggiore (CR) 9 Luglio 1878
Cheng-chow (Cina) 5 Novembre 1924
Fr. Antonio Sartori died at Cheng-chow (China) of pneumonia on Nov. 5 1924. He was 46 years old, born on July 9 1878 at Roncadello di Casalmaggiore (Cremona).
He attended the Seminary of Cremona, and continued his studies at the Major Seminary of Parma. At 21 years old, on Nov. 1 1899, he entered in the Congregation of Conforti, and was ordained a priest on June 29 1901. He professed vows in the Xaverians on Dec. 3 1901, and soon after he became Chaplain at the “Lambruschini” clinic of Certosa di Parma, and assistant at the Good Shepherd.
At the age of 26, on Jan. 18 1904, Fr. Sartori joined the second group of departing missionaries to China, with Frs. L. Calza, Bonardi and Brambilla. The PIME Missionary Apostolic Vicar Msgr. Simone Volenteri accompanied them. Once in China, he was assigned to the Christian communities of Può-ceng, Wy-Yang, Lu-Shan, Zuchow, and Honanfu. He wrote from Lu-shan to the Founder: "Last year all I could see was crosses to bear with very little fruit. I must confess that I wished to go to a different mission station more than once, and I even asked the Apostolic Prefect to give me other Christian communities where I would receive more personal satisfaction in my apostolic ministry... I was put in environments where no European has ever lived, and overcome the prejudices of the people who hated anything that was not Chinese... I cannot recount the insults that I received, and my ability to hold on to my anger... It seemed that even the Mandarins were together in stopping my plans for being present in their areas, for everywhere the drum would curse church, missionaries, and Europeans... Now I realize how wise it was for Fr. Calza to urge me to resist all this, and not give in to my requests... I can truly say that the Church has won even here, with more than 500 families who have renounced to their local superstitions, and about 300 people who are ready to be baptized." (Dec. 3 1908)
After a seven year missionary work, he was recalled to Italy in 1911 as Spiritual Director of the Xaverian Congregation, which consisted at that time of the Mother House. He wrote to Conforti from China: "I, as spiritual Director of the Mother House? After seven years of China, in the midst of people with diverse mentalitiy, plunged in a such trying work? What can I preach to the young aspiring missionaries?... Anyways, you will keep me in Italy only for a short time, won't you?"
At the beginning of World War I, in 1915, Fr. Sartori was named Military Chaplain of the Field Hospital 0.36 and the Military Hospitals of the Seminary, of the college Maria Luigia, of S. Benedetto, and of the schools F. Cavallotti. At the end of the war, he also served as Director of the Missionary Union of the Parma Clergy. Fr. Antonio moved to the new Xaverian Apostolic School of Vicenza on Oct. 1 1919, as the first Rector of the house.
After a three-year term, Fr. Sartori left for China once again on Jan. 4 1922, working as Pro-Vicar of Msgr. Calza in the Apostolic Vicariate of Cheng-chow, visiting many times the confreres in their different mission stations. Unfortunately, just two years later, pneumonia had the best of him, and died on Nov. 5 1924, assisted by Msgr. Calza and the confreres at Cheng-chow. His last words were for Bishop Calza: "Have courage, Monsignor, for you will have a lot of work ahead of you, and a lot of sufferings... Yet, I will be close to you with my prayers." (Fede e Civiltà, 1925)
