(1935-2020)
Il 29 febbraio 2020, verso le ore 06:00, dopo lunga malattia è morto a Parma, in Casa Madre, P. Pietro Zoni. Il confratello aveva 85 anni, essendo nato a Gottolengo (Brescia - IT) il giorno 17.02.1935.
Dopo la scuola elementare, il giovane Pierino entra nel Seminario Diocesano di Brescia dove vive tutto il percorso scolastico-formativo fino all’ordinazione sacerdotale avvenuta a Cigole (BS) il 24.06.1961.
Spinto dallo Spirito del Concilio, p. Pierino conta di partire per la missione come “fidei donum”, ma l’incontro con il saveriano p. Giuseppe Rinaldi lo spinge a consacrarsi totalmente alla missione e a far parte dell’Istituto Saveriano (cfr. Cenni storici sulla vocazione). Nel settembre del 1968 entra nella casa saveriana di Nizza M. per fare l’anno di noviziato.
Emessa la Prima Professione il 12.09.1969, p. Pierino viene destinato al Burundi dove giunge nel settembre del 1970, dopo alcuni mesi trascorsi a Parigi per lo studio del francese. Dopo un periodo di studio della lingua locale a Bujumbura, viene destinato alla parrocchia di Matara come vice parroco (1971-1977) e, poi, come parroco (1977-1979). Nel giugno del 1979, insieme ad altri missionari, viene espulso dal Burundi.
I Superiori lo destinano subito agli Stati Uniti d’America. Dopo alcuni mesi di studio dell’inglese a Chicago, p. Pierino viene destinato a Franklin come formatore (1980-1982) e, poi, come economo (1982-1983). In seguito viene nominato Rettore della Teologia di Chicago (1983-1986).
Con la gioia di ritornare in Africa unita a una certa apprensione al pensiero di iniziare una nuova missione in un ambiente completamente nuovo (cfr. Lettera a Signorelli del 03.03.1986) nel novembre del 1986 p. Pierino arriva in Camerun per lavorare nella nuova missione di Bafoussam-Koptchou (1986-1994). Dopo un periodo a Benakuma (1994-1997), viene eletto Superiore Regionale del Cameroun-Tchad (1997-2004).
Al termine del secondo mandato, p. Pierino viene destinato al Burundi. Dopo un anno come vice parroco a Gisanze (2004-2005) viene destinato alla casa di Formazione-Animazione di Bujumbura dove ricopre vari servizi (2005-2013).
Nel 2013 viene destinato a Parma per cure mediche. Qui, il 29 febbraio 2020, viene portato al cospetto dell’Altissimo per ricevere la ricompensa del servo buono e fedele.
Riposi in pace.
English
Fr. Pietro Zoni died in the Mother House of Parma on February 29th, 2020, at 6:00 am. He was born in the town of Gottolengo (Brescia – IT) on February 2nd, 1935, and was now 85 years old.
At the end of Primary School, Pietro Zoni entered in the Diocesan Seminary of Brescia. There he remained to the end of his spiritual, intellectual and theological formation and was ordained Priest in the town of Cigole (BS) on June 24th, 1961.
Inspired by the Spirit of the II Vatican Council, Fr. Pietro Zoni decided to leave for the foreign missions as a “Fidei Donum Priest”. Meeting Fr. Giuseppe Rinaldi, s.x., young Fr. Pietro Zoni felt urged to consecrate himself totally to minister in the foreign missions as a member of the Xaverian Missionary Fathers (see his “Cenni Storici Sulla Vocazione”). On September 1968, Fr. Pietro Zoni entered the xaverian novitiate house in Nizza Monferrato. There he celebrated his first religious missionary profession on September 9th, 1969.
Soon after his Profession, Fr. Pietro Zoni was assigned to mission work in Burundi, where he arrived in September 1970, after few months spent in Paris for the study of the French language. In the city of Bujumbura he studied the local language and was assigned as assistant Parish Priest to the Parish of Matara (1971-1977) and, then, Parish Priest (1977-1979). In the month of June1979, together with other missionaries, Fr. Pietro Zoni was expelled from Burundi.
The Xaverian General Direction decided to assign Fr. Pietro Zoni to minister in the USA. For some months he studied the English Language and, then, was assigned to the Xaverian Community of Franklin (WIS) as students formator (1980-1982). In the years 1982 and 1983, he was named house treasurer. Subsequently, Fr. Pietro Zoni was named Rector of the house of Theology in Chicago (ILL) (1983-1986).
With the joy of returning to mission in Africa, and also with a certain amount of apprehension of having to initiate a new mission experience in a place completely unknown to him (see Letter of Fr. Francis Signorelli of March 3rd, 1986), Fr. Pietro Zoni arrived in Cameroun in the month of November 1986, assigned to minister at Bafoussam-Koptchou (1986-1994). After few years spent in Benakuma (1994-1997), he was chosen as Regional Superior of the Xaverian Missionaries in Cameroun-Tchad (1997-2004).
At the end of his second turn, Fr. Pietro Zoni was assigned to Burundi. For the first year there, he ministered as assistant Parish Priest at Gisanze (2004-2005). Then, he was assigned to the Formation and Mission Education house of Bujumbura, where he ministered in various forms and services (2005-2013).
In the year 2013, Fr. Pietro Zoni weas assigned to the Xaverian Mother House in Parma to take care of his health needs. On February 29th, 2020, Fr. Pietro Zoni was brought to the presence of the Most High to receive the reward of the good and faithful servant.
May Fr. Pietro Zoni rest in peace!
