P. Fulvio Boffi
Sforzatica di Dalmine (Bergamo), 7 dicembre 1932
Sforzatica di Dalmine (Bergamo), 4 febbraio 1988
Lavorò 28 anni in Giappone. Di anni 56. Sepolto a Sforzatica, Bergamo
Il padre Fulvio Boffi, nato a Sforzatica di Dalmine (Bergamo) il 7 dicembre 1932, entrò nella nostra casa di Grumone (Cremona) all'età di dodici anni.
Da appena un paio di mesi aveva perso il padre nel bombardamento dello stabilimento di Dalmine, e sua madre, con ammirabile generosità, lo lasciò partire.
Percorse regolarmente tutte le tappe della formazione saveriana, e nel 1958 fu ordinato sacerdote. L'anno seguente partì per il Giappone dove lavorò per vent'otto anni dedicandosi all'apostolato nei nostri centri missionari.
Nel 1987 dovette essere operato di tumore maligno allo stomaco, che gli fu completamente asportato. Per rimettersi in forze tornò in Italia nello stesso anno. Pensava di poter tornare in Giappone nei primi mesi dell'anno seguente, ma il giorno quattro febbraio il Signore lo chiamò a sé.
In Giappone sarà ricordato a lungo per la sua costante affabilità. Nell'attività pastorale seguiva l'orientamento dato da chi lo aveva preceduto, e adattava l'azione alle esigenze della gente. Tutti gli volevano bene perché sentivano d'essere amati e apprezzati. Sapeva infatti ascoltare tutti con attenzione e interesse, non per convenienza. Il suo atteggiamento, come la serenità ammirabile che mostrò durante la malattia, erano ispirati dalla fede e dalla fiducia nell'amorosa Provvidenza di Dio.
La salma di P. Boffi, dopo il rito funebre a Sforzatica, cui parteciparono molti saveriani, altri sacerdoti e una folla di fedeli, venne tumulata nel cimitero del paese natale.
Fr. Fulvio Boffi
Sforzatica di Dalmine (Bergamo), 7 dicembre 1932
Sforzatica di Dalmine (Bergamo), 4 febbraio 1988
Fr. Fulvio Boffi died of stomach tumor on Feb. 4 1988 at Sforzatica. He was 55 years old, born at Sforzatica (Bergamo) on Dec. 7 1932.
He entered the Xaverians at Grumone (Cremona) on Aug. 7 1944 when he was 11 years old, and after having gone through some personal tragic experiences. A month before his entry, his dad died in the Dalmine Bombing of July 6 1944, and his mother, with admirable generosity, brought him to the Xaverians. Also, in earlier years, Fulvio lost a little brother and sister.
In Sept. 1950 he began his Novitiate Year at S. Pietro in Vincoli, where he professed religious missionary vows on Sept. 12 1951. Fr. Doneda recalls his years in liceo: “During the summer months of 1951-54, we used to spend our vacations as a community in the Alps, in the area of Mount Rosa… He was happy to help war widows of those valleys to gather the harvest. He loved mountains, and he was a skilled mountain climber. He loved high mountains, and he could endure for 18 hours marches.”
After years of studies at Piacenza and Parma, he was ordained priest on Nov. 9 1958 and was soon assigned to Japan, departing on Aug. 8 1959. There he will work for 28 years. He worked at Nichinan (1960-61), Miyazaki (1962-63), Kishiwada (1964-65), Tano (1968-71), Kokubu (1973-81), Shibushi (1982-85) and finally at Kanoya until his returned to Italy at the end of Sept. 1987. “He learned the language well: not the elegant and refine Japanese, but the more popular and sober Japanese language which transmits a certain familiarity with everyone… The best gift that he gave us Xaverians and the Japanese communities was his immediate and serene friendship. His friendly relationships would gift the receiver with something of substance and of goodness.” (Fr. Anzanello).
Fr. Boffi dedicated himself to the ministries in the different parishes. His affable manners will ever be remembered. He learned well from the missionaries in the field, scheduling programs according to the needs of the people. People felt loved and appreciated by his words to them. He had the skill of listening deeply and with interest. His mannerism and his admirable serenity, shown even during his sickness, were inspired by his faith and his trust on the Divine Providence.
In 1987 he had a complete removal of a stomach tumor, and the operation seemed successful. Soon after, he returned to Italy in order to gain strength and rest a little, with the hope of returning to Japan in the earlier months of 1988. Unfortunately, the Lord called him home on Feb. 4 1988. The funeral liturgy took place at Sforzatica, participated by many Xaverians, diocesan priests and a crowd of friends and native town people who had supported Fr. Boffi in his missionary journey. He was laid to rest at cemetery of Sforzatica.
