Diacono Giuseppe Madinelli
Belfiore d'Adige (Verona), 17 maggio 1956
Udine, 27 settembre 1987
Studente di teologia, diacono. Di anni 31. Sepolto a Pocenìa - Udine
Il diacono Madinelli nacque a Belfiore d'Adige (Verona) il 7 maggio 1956 ed era andato ancora bambino piccolissimo in Friuli dove i suoi avevano potuto comperare un podere.
Venne in contatto con i nostri missionari di Udine, ed in particolare col P. Sala, quando era ancora in terza elementare. Nel 1967 entrò ad Udine e seguì le tappe successive: Zelarino, Tavernerio (per il noviziato) Parma (per la teologia).
Nel 1981 aveva preferito ritirarsi dall'Istituto per un ripensamento personale. Cercò e trovò un lavoro in un'industria chimica e in un'acciaieria. Fece anche il manovale ed il camionista. Contemporaneamente si iscrisse alla facoltà di Lingue orientali dell'università Cà Foscari di Venezia.
In seguito fece l'istruttore presso un'autoscuola e si iscrisse come esterno al seminario diocesano. Dopo due anni entrò come interno in seminario e nel 1984 chiese ed ottenne di rientrare all'Istituto.
Conclusi gli studi teologici a Parma col conseguimento del bacellierato, ebbe non solo il consenso ma anche il consiglio di riprendere gli studi interrotti a Venezia. Era stato iscritto, infatti, nel gruppo dei confratelli che avrebbero dovuto prepararsi per un futuro apostolato in Cina.
Alla fine della primavera del 1986 esami medici approfonditi rivelarono che era stato colpito dalla leucemia. Venne curato a Vicenza e si riprese bene tanto da poter continuare regolarmente i suoi studi, dare anche qualche esame ed accedere al diaconato (27 maggio 87).
Agli inizi di luglio 1987 il male riprese la sua corsa inesorabile. Fu ricoverato prima all'ospedale di Vicenza e poi in quello di Udine, ma ogni cura si rivelò inefficace.
Fu assistito amorevolmente dai suoi di casa e dai nostri confratelli che si alternarono al suo capezzale. Era già stato stabilito che avrebbe ricevuto l'ordinazione sacerdotale il 20 ottobre 1987 ma il Signore lo chiamò a sè il 27 settembre.
Il suo corpo riposa a Pocenìa (Udine) ove la sua famiglia risiede.
Deacon Giuseppe Madinelli
Belfiore d'Adige (Verona), 17 maggio 1956
Udine, 27 settembre 1987
Deacon Giuseppe Madinelli died of leukemia at the Hospital of Udine on Sept. 27 1987. He was 31 years old, born at Belfiore d’Adige (Verona) on May 7 1956.
He joined the Xaverian Missionaries in Udine for middle school in 1967, because his parents had moved to Pocenia (Udine) where they had acquired a farm. He continued his studies at Zelarino, Novitiate at Tavernerio, and studies of theology in Parma.
After one year of theology, he was sent to Udine as prefect. At the end of that year (1978) he left the Congregation. His decision, in his own words, was due “not to a vocational crisis or disagreement with the Xaverian lifestyle, but to a profound need to live a more ‘normal’ life, among ordinary people, outside a religious structure.”
In discernment, he found the demanding type of work he wanted to do. Initially he worked at a chemical factory, then in the mill of a steelworks, as a truck driver, a bricklayer, a driving instructor. At the same time, he enrolled in the faculty of Oriental languages at the University of Venice, studying Chinese and Hebrew, satisfying thereby his passionate interest in China and the Bible. He joined the Diocesan Seminary of Udine in 1984 as a non-resident student. He was advised to enter seminary on a full-time resident basis, with a view of getting reacquainted with the rhythm of an ascetical lifestyle and a regular pastoral activity in a parish set-up, especially in the field of youth and liturgy.
In August 1985, he rejoined the Xaverian Missionaries at Parma, with the conclusion of his theology studies, obtaining a bachelor's degree in theology. Since he still had to do a trial period prior to ordination, and because of his interest and studies in Eastern Languages at Cà Foscari in Venice, he was chosen to be part of “the China Group” (Xaverians preparing themselves for a future apostolate in China), and was asked to continue those studies, while residing at Zelarino.
Unfortunately, during the spring of 1986 medical exams revealed leukemia. He was admitted first at Vicenza’s Hospital, and was treated with a positive outcome, so much so he resumed his studies and was admitted to the Diaconate on May 27 1987.
In July 1987, as he himself was preparing for his ordination to the priesthood set for Oct. 24 1987, further tests revealed that the leukemia had spread in his body, which brought him to his premature death, a month before his Priesthood ordination. Every form of treatment was tried both in Vicenza and Udine, where he arrived at the beginning of September. He himself realized that there was no hope of his getting better and accepted with strength and faith the sacrifice of his youth and his ideals.
He was cared by family members and confreres at the hospitals of Vicenza and Udine till the day of his death, on Sept. 27 1987. He is buried in the family lot at Pocenia (Udine) where his family resides, and where his missionary vocation was born.
