P. Alberto Pierobon
Cittadella (Padova), 14 dicembre 1927
Almirante Tamandarè PR (Brasile), 31 luglio 1976
Missionario in Brasile, assassinato tragicamente. Di anni 49. Sepolto a Moreira Salles - Brasile
Nato a Cittadella (PD) il 14.XII.1927 era entrato all'Istituto a 19 anni. Ordinato Sacerdote il 4.VI.1955 fu destinato alla Casa di S. Pietro in Vincoli come Economo e Propagandista.
Nel 1961 partiva per il Brasile; nei tre anni trascorsi a Jaguapità, si dedicò al ministero, alle costruzioni ed alla conduzione dell'Azienda.
Quando fu aperta la Prelazia di Abaetè passò in Amazzonia, dedicandosi pure là alle costruzioni del Centro di Abaetè dove rimase tre anni (1964-1967). Nel 1967 venne destinato ad Acarà dove mise ogni suo impegno, prima come aiutante e poi come responsabile di quel Centro. Il superlavoro con il quale si dedicò alla sua Parrocchia, una brutta caduta ed il clima dell'Amazzonia scossero profondamente la sua salute, per cui ritornò nel Brasile del Sud e lavorò prima a Londrina, poi a Moreira Salles, di cui divenne Parroco.
Si prodigò nel lavoro missionario con tutto il suo carattere generoso, infaticabile, ardimentoso. Apparentemente burbero era sensibilissimo ad ogni sofferenza umana ed era sempre pronto a sobbarcarsi i pesi degli altri, capace delle più alte donazioni di sé pur di fare un favore al prossimo.
Nel luglio 1976 si era portato a Curitiba per partecipare ad una riunione assieme a tutti i Confratelli e per sottoporsi ad alcuni esami e controlli medici. Appariva piuttosto agitato e sovrappensiero. Nel pomeriggio del 31 luglio fu visto uscire di casa in maniche di camicia, come se volesse andare a prendere una boccata d'aria. Dopo di allora non se ne seppe più nulla fino a che il suo cadavere non fu ritrovato il 9 settembre.
In seguito si dedurrà che il P. Alberto è morto assassinato il 31.VII.1976. Il suo corpo, con la testa ed un braccio staccati dal busto ed in avanzato stato di decomposizione, è stato trovato casualmente in mezzo ad un bosco da un cacciatore in località Almirante Tamandarè, a circa 14 chilometri da Curitiba.
Dato che poco distante dal luogo ove il cadavere fu trovato passa una strada di grande traffico, in un primo tempo si era pensato ad una disgrazia; e cioè che egli fosse stato investito da qualche macchina e poi fosse stato nascosto dal bosco. Le condizioni in cui fu trovata la sua salma hanno fatto scartare questa ipotesi e propendere per una sua soppressione violenta.
Si ignorano i colpevoli di questo misfatto, ma trova campo l'ipotesi che ad ucciderlo sia stato un gruppo di zingari che poco tempo prima avevano dovuto lasciare Moreira Salles, la sua Parrocchia, anche per suo interessamento presso le Autorità locali.
La sua salma, per espresso desiderio dei suoi parrocchiani, venne trasportata a Moreira Salles, dove una folla imponente gli tributò l'estremo saluto e lo accompagnò al Camposanto.
Fr. Alberto Pierobon
Cittadella (Padova), 14 dicembre 1927
Almirante Tamandarè PR (Brasile), 31 luglio 1976
Fr. Alberto Pierobon was found dead at Almirante Tamandarè on Sept. 9 1976. His decomposed body had been found in a forest more than a month after his disappearance (July 31 1976). To this day no one knows who killed him, or why. Some believe he was murdered by a gang of gypsies, others say he may have been killed by a hit and run truck driver. Everyone who knew him is convinced that he was the victim of his love for the poor people of Brazil where he had spent fifteen years as a missionary. He was 48 years old, born at Cittadella (Padua) on Dec. 14 1927. He joined the Xaverians at 19 years old at S. Pietro in Vincoli where he did his Novitiate. In his letter he wrote: “I ask to be admitted to the novitiate. My parents have given me their consent, at least partially, for the moment. Even yesterday, while I was preparing the necessary documents, they repeatedly warned me as on previous occasions. They think I should postpone this decision until I am more certain. But I am now convinced that this is what God wants of me. I trust in the Lord and I know that, together with his Blessed Mother, will assist me.” At the end of Novitiate, on Sept. 11 1946, he professed religious vows. He was ordained a priest on June 4 1955, and was assigned to the house of S. Pietro in Vincoli as treasurer and mission animator.
He was assigned to Brazil in 1961, where he worked at Jaguapità in the pastoral ministry, in building and the running of the Farm (1961-64). In June 1961, he wrote his first letter to the Superior General: “My biggest suffering at the moment is due to the fact that I cannot respond to the people’s needs by giving them a suitable spiritual assistance. Everyone tells me to be patient and, while this helps me to participate in the people’s suffering, it is also an incentive for me to finish my preparation as soon as possible.” When the Prelacy of Abaetè was opened, he went to the Northern Brazil to serve there, building a parish center at Abaetè (1964-67). Bishop Giovanni Gazza, who had been appointed to Abaeté, Pará, in North Brazil, said of him: “So much needed to be done and Father Pierobon committed himself wholeheartedly to getting it all organized. Though he was a quiet man, he was also impetuous and bursting with initiative.” In 1967 he moved to Acarà to help in the parish, and guide the Christian community present there. He was a hard worker, but that took a toll on his health; he also fell, and the climate of the Amazons was not conducive to him.
On top of this, there was the sudden loss of Sandra Pierobon, his sister, who had been sending her brother help from Italy for some time. She had finally decided to go to Brazil herself and spend four months working with the poor. She paid for her generosity with her life. As she prepared to return home, she took the bus, which went into the river. She died instantly. Fr. Albert wrote of that event: “As a result of this, and my illness, I collapsed and needed about 20 days to recover some serenity and peace. I felt completely lost and emotionally drained by the violent death of Sandra because of one man’s carelessness, my illness, the almost certain separation from Acarà and my people. These are all part of God’s mysterious plan.” He told his family that he had visited his sister’s grave: “I wanted to see what it was like. I sat in front of the small cross and I almost heard her scold me, asking what I was doing sitting there. In my heart I heard her tell me to move, get on with life and set my sights high. She is at peace”.
He had to return to Southern Brazil, where he worked at Londrina, and at Moreira Salles as parish priest. There, he was an untiring, generous and zealous missionary, sensitive to the needs of the people who suffered much, ever ready to carry the burdens of others, able to give of himself in order to do a favor to others. In July 1976 he was in Curitiba for a Xaverian meeting, and took advantage of that break to do some medical exams. He was rather agitated and tormented by nightmares. On July 31 1976, at about 2 pm, he was seen leaving his room, heading for a country road, in his shirtsleeves and without his glasses. It seemed he was just going out for some fresh air. He was never seen again.
On September 9, 1976, a hunter informed the police of Almirante Tamandarè, a locality 10 miles from Curitiba, that there was a decomposed body on the hill known as Morro dos Maristas. The following day, at 7:30 am, a parishioner of Vista Alegre informed the Xaverians that Father Albert had been found. Because the location was very close to a heavy traffic road, it was thought at the beginning that it was a hit and run. But, after further examination of the clothes and the body, everything pointed to murder as the most accurate explanation of what had happened.
After a mass at Vista Alegre, the body of Father Albert then left on its last journey to his parish in Moreira Salles, where a huge crowd attended the funeral service, and laid him to rest at the Cemetery. Fr. Carlo Coruzzi, Regional Superior, wrote of the funeral Procession on Sept. 12, 1976: “It was a very moving scene: the children, young people, adults and the elderly all agreed that there would never be another priest like their Father Albert. He had been so good to everyone and had been the main reason of the unity among them. They had become a family thanks to his untiring efforts. In my own opinion, these words of the sobbing mourners contain a lot of truth. Perhaps his mission had been accomplished, and the Lord sealed his life with the gift of martyrdom so that no one would ever doubt the authenticity of his zeal.”
"I am certain, however, that Father Albert deeply loved that community and held it in the same esteem as he did his own family and congregation; he knew that his people understood him and supported him in difficult times. May the Lord grant him the peace of the just and the crown of the martyrs. Many here believe that his sacrificed has earned him this much. Father General [Fr. Giovanni Gazza], our Xaverian family can count another martyr among its ranks”.
At the commemorative Mass on Sept. 17, 1976, Bishop Giovanni Gazza, the Superior General of the Xaverians, went to Cittadella and delivered a long and impassioned address to the family, friends and townsfolk of the martyr: "I wish to confirm that for fifteen years he gave himself entirely to his work among the poor of Brazil; for some years I personally witnessed this. He was never belied: he was always the first to shoulder any burden. We were just beginning the mission in the Amazons and we had to endure long, difficult journeys along the rivers, lasting days and nights, to get the first activities started . Father Albert was a most precious help to us, he gave birth to the first consistent works of the mission: school, hospital, churches, residences for the missionaries, chapels in the interior. His untiring pastoral activity went hand in hand with this material work. His health forced him to occasionally interrupt his work: since his student days he had been tormented by stomach problems, which later worsened, probably exasperated by the local diet which was not always suitable for someone with his problems. His physical suffering and the psychological distress that accompanied it lend greater weight to his zeal and self-giving. This is the most profound and moving truth of his life: his missionary vocation was born from, and consumed in, pain and suffering."
