Fr. Lio Stocco
Carmignano di Brenta (Padova), 19 aprile 1909
Makeni (Sierra Leone), 19 febbraio 1974
Missionario medico in Cina, in Bangladesh ed in Sierra Leone. Di anni 65. Sepolto a Makeni - Sierra Leone
Nato a Carmignano di Brenta (PD) il 19.IV.1909, era entrato ancora ragazzo allo Istituto di Vicenza con l'intenzione di diventare Sacerdote Missionario. Interrotti gli studi a causa di persistenti emicranie, decise di diventare Missionario Coadiutore. Emessa la Professione nelle mani del Fondatore il 15.XI.1925, per 10 anni poté curare una vasta preparazione medica, frequentando l'Università di Parma, il "Corso di Erboristeria", la Farmacia dell'Ospedale Maggiore, il Gabinetto di Ricerche Cliniche, il Gabinetto dentistico dei Dr. Pellegri-Alberti...
Il 2.X.1936, a 27 anni, partiva per la Cina: qui esercitò una molteplice attività medica in ospedali ed ambulatori che gli vennero affidati dalle stesse Autorità locali. Con spirito cristiano curò i corpi e dialogò con i malati di Shanchaw, di Loyang, di Shing-hsiang, di Cheng-chow; a Kaifong fu nominato Professore all'Università.
Durante la bufera comunista del sopraggiunto regime maoista, subì per 5 anni (1948-1953) una subdola e tormentosa persecuzione psicologica che lo mise a lunga e continua prova: allettandolo con promesse di lauti ricompensi economici, di vantaggiose cattedre d'insegnamento, il governo comunista tentò di indurlo a restare in Cina, per esercitare la sua preziosa attività medica, a patto che rinunciasse alla fede cattolica. Imprigionato e giunto per tre volte, per minaccia, davanti al plotone di esecuzione, il 17.1.1953 venne espulso dalla Cina.
Tre anni dopo, nella primavera del 1956 fu destinato alla Missione di Khulna, nell'allora Pakistan Orientale. Per nove anni lavorò come medico missionario nell'Ospedale di Jessore che egli stesso costruì, partecipando a Congressi Internazionali relativi alla cura della lebbra e mirando a creare a Jessore un lebbrosario.
Su invito del Vescovo di Makeni, che cercava un medico per i lebbrosi, ai primi di ottobre 1965 si portava in Sierra Leone. Per nove anni, egli si dedica prevalentemente alla cura dei lebbrosi, adottando metodi preventivi con le visite a domicilio e creando il "Rehabilitation Centre" a Makeni: per i suoi modi caritatevoli e benevoli egli era amato da tutti: cristiani, protestanti, musulmani, ricchi e poveri.
Colto da scompenso cardiaco, morì nella Domus religiosa di Makeni il 19.II.1974. Ai funerali, cui seguì il trasporto funebre al cimitero, c'era tutta Makeni, specialmente la gioventù: una vera fiumana di gente. Pareva impossibile che Makeni ne contenesse tanta.
Br. Lio Stocco
Carmignano di Brenta (Padova), 19 aprile 1909
Makeni (Sierra Leone), 19 febbraio 1974
Brother Leo Stocco died at the religious Domus in Makeni (Sierra Leone) on Feb. 19 1974, of heart problems. He was 64 years old, born at Carmignano di Brenta (Prov. of Padova, Dioc. of Vicenza) on April 19 1909.
He entered the Xaverians at Vicenza at the age of 12, and continued his studies wanting to become a Xaverian priest. But because of persistent migraine headaches, he changed his vocation in life and professed religious vows as a brother on Nov. 13 1925 in the hands of the Founder at Parma. In the following 10 years, he could specialize in the medical field by frequenting the University of Parma, the pharmacy of the Hospital, the consulting committees of Clinical Research and of Dentistry of Drs. Pellegri-Alberti, and also attend a course in Herbal Medicines.
On Oct. 2 1936, at 27 years of age, he departed for China, and practiced in the medical and ambulatory field given by local Chinese authorities. With Christian spirit he healed bodies and approached the sick with his words at Shanchaw, at Loyang, at Shing-hsiang, at Cheng-chow. He also taught as professor at the University of Kaifong.
These were the years of the Japanese-Chinese war, and the advent of the Communist Regime. During the last fives years of service as a doctor in China (1948-53) he underwent a subtle and tormenting psychological persecution which caused him many trials: the communist government tried very hard to convince him to stay in China to practice his precious medical activity, by promising large financial compensations and many positions of teaching, if he would renounced his Catholic faith. He was also imprisoned and faced the firing squad three times, until he was finally expelled from China on Jan. 17 1953.
In the mid-50s, Brother Leo spent time in Italy, where he received his M.D. from the University of Parma. In the Spring of 1956, Brother Leo was assigned to Khulna, the East Pakistan, where he became a specialist in the treatment of leprosy, and helped found Fatima Hospital in Jessore where thousands of Bengali are still treated every year. He worked there for nine years, participating at International Congresses which related to the cure of leprosy, always with the dream of founding a leprosarium at Jessore.
Then, the Bishop of Makeni invited him to Sierra Leone in Oct. 1965, to establish a program for the prevention and cure of leprosy. The program began officially in 1967 with the cooperation of the Department of Health and Education, and the financial assistance of Catholic Relief Services from the USA, Lepra of England, and Misereor of Germany. For the next nine years, Brother Leo Stocco went personally from village to village, conducting a leprosy survey throughout the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. In 1972, his work was expanded to the entire country in the National Leprosy Control Program, coordinated by Fr. Rocco Serra. Brother Lio’s goal was to make Sierra Leone the first African country to become free of leprosy. At the time of his death, about 13,000 of the estimated 25,000 lepers had been located, and were being cared for. He built the “Rehabilitation Center” at Makeni, a structure that was appreciated and loved by all, Christians, Muslims, Protestants, rich and poor alike.
Brother Leo once expressed his devotion to his patients in the following lines, which are eloquent in their simplicity: “…Every word of yours, every expression of sorrow and need your face reveals deeply touch me. I listen: you are my brother, my sister; I listen with loving compassion…” Often, at the end of the day, despite his weariness, he would accept the insistent invitations of the villagers to join them in listening to their music and dancing the simple folk dances. He was one of them to the end. “I want to be a ray of light, an instrument of healing for body and spirit to everyone I meet,” he had said. His heart gave in, and died on Feb. 19 1974 at Makeni. Thousands of patients mourned his loss, “the Lepers’ Missionary,” by attending his funeral services. There was indeed a throng of people, among them the young, who had come to respect and love him, and appreciated his success in the giving of his warm heart as well as his medical skill. He was laid to rest in the Cemetery at Makeni.
