P. Remigio Piacere
Villa Del Ferro (Vicenza), 8 aprile 1912
Parma,18 aprile 1985
Lavorò nelle Case dell'Istituto, missionario in Cina per 15 anni. Di anni 72. Sepolto a Villa Del Ferro - Vicenza
Il P. Remigio Piacere era nato a Villa Del Ferro (Vicenza) il giorno 8 aprile 1912 ed era entrato nel nostro Istituto di Vicenza a tredici anni, nel 1925. Emessa la sua professione religiosa il 30 agosto 1931 e ricevuta l'ordinazione sacerdotale il 20 giugno 1937, partì per la Cina il giorno 8 febbraio 1939.
Arrivò in Cina quando la guerra cino-giapponese era in atto da tempo e le comunicazioni con la nostra missione dell'Honan erano estremamente difficili. Dovette attendere a lungo, prima a Tientsin e poi a Pechino, che arrivassero tempi migliori, oppure che si presentasse qualche occasione favorevole. Egli occupò quel tempo nello studio del cinese.
Il 24 giugno 1940 partì finalmente per Cheng-chow dove arrivò solo 1'8 luglio successivo con un viaggio pieno di avventure.
Il suo apostolato in Cina fu segnato da avvenimenti gravi e dolorosi: la guerra coi Giapponesi, il campo di concentramento, l'invasione e l'occupazione comunista, l'espulsione avvenuta nell'estate del 1953.
Di tutto quel periodo egli non lasciò nulla di scritto. Era molto parco nello scrivere anche con i suoi familiari.
Rientrato dalla Cina nell'agosto del 1953, passò circa due anni (novembre 1953-settembre 1955) nella ex Casa di Pedrengo e poi fu destinato a quella di Udine dove rimase, ricoprendo successivamente vari uffici (insegnante, consigliere, vicerettore, rettore) fino all'autunno del 1981. Nel 1980 venne colpito da emiparesi destra che lo costrinse ad interrompere ogni attività ed a sottoporsi a cure mediche e ad esercizi fisioterapici per riprendere, almeno parzialmente l'uso del braccio e della gamba destra.
Durante il periodo e gli anni passati ad Udine si distinse per l'amore alla Casa, alla natura, ai fiori, agli uccelli. Ma soprattutto fu elemento di unione nella comunità e, col suo modo di fare non molto espansivo ma sempre aperto ed accogliente, seppe allargare la conoscenza e la simpatia per l'Istituto tra il clero diocesano.
Nel 1981 fu persuaso a trasferirsi a Parma, presso la Casa Madre per avere una migliore assistenza medica ed infermieristica. Passava le sue giornate parte leggendo, parte cercando di fare movimenti fisici anche a costo di grandi sacrifici, parte conversando con eventuali visitatori.
Le sue condizioni fisiche peggiorarono rapidamente dall'autunno dello scorso anno a questa primavera. Nel mese di aprile di quest'anno fu ricoverato nell'Ospedale delle Piccole Figlie, ma le cure ricevute non riuscirono a fargli superare le ripetute crisi del male.
Morì alla Casa Madre il giorno 18 aprile 1985 e la sua salma riposa nel cimitero del suo paese accanto a quelle dei suoi cari e di suo fratello P. Lucino.
Fr. Remigio Piacere
Villa Del Ferro (Vicenza), 8 aprile 1912
Parma,18 aprile 1985
Fr. Remigio Piacere died at the Mother House in Parma on April 18 1985, following a long period of rehabilitation from a stroke which affected the movement of his right arm and leg. He was 73 years old, born at Villa Del Ferro (Vicenza) on April 8 1912.
He entered the Xaverians at Vicenza when he was 13 years old, in 1925. He then continued to the Novitiate year in Parma, and professed religious vows on Aug. 30 1931, and was ordained priest at the end of his theology studies on June 20 1937.
On Feb. 8 1939 Fr. Remigio departed for China, which was in the midst of the Chinese-Japanese conflict. Communications between mission posts were difficult, especially in Honan, and Fr. Piacere waited a long time before reaching Cheng-chow. In the meantime he studied the Chinese language at Tientsin and then at Pecking. He finally departed for Cheng-chow on June 24 1940, and arrived there 20 days later, after an adventurous and troublesome trip. His ministry in China was certainly marked by the sad and painful events of that time: the Chinese-Japanese War, the experience of the Concentration Camp together with all other Xaverians, the Communist invasion and occupation, the public tribunals, and the expulsion which happened for Fr. Piacere in the summer of 1953. Yet, of these 13 years of ministry in China, Fr. Piacere left nothing written, except for the letter below, for he was frugal in letters, even to his family members.
From Lushan, he wrote: “I spent three months at Lushan. I started to have a vision of people, of places and situations, when Msgr. Calza asked me to move to Luo-ho. In obedience I said: ‘My knapsack is ever ready, Your Excellency. In the mission field, every place is good.’ It doesn’t matter, for this is the way it should be. I felt at easy at Lushan: there was a good relationship with Fr. Basso… I saw him as a great worker. In this period I visited a few Christian communities, and I spent a few days with them. I was happy to do that, even though the journey to reach some of the communities is hard indeed, because of the mountains and the ever-present rivers.
We experienced a sense of calm in Lushan, except for a few alarms and some airplanes. But we are wondering on the presence of so many soldiers. Where do they come from? Where are they going? ... We pray and we hope for peace, peace throughout the world. It is true: Divine Providence is never lacking; yet the Bishop writes to us asking bear the sufferings with much faithfulness, for we do not know what tomorrow brings…” (Dec. 30 1940)
Back in Italy, he spent almost two years in Pedrengo (Nov. 1953 to Sept. 1955), and then was assigned to the House of Udine where he remained for over 25 years of his life. He held many responsibilities in those years in Udine: teacher, councilor, vice-rector, rector. In 1980 he had a stroke that influenced the movement of his right side of the body, which obliged him to stop any ministry and activity, and focus more on months of physical therapy and rehabilitation. During his many years in Udine, he became known as someone who took great care of the house, the park, the flowers, the birds. He was a member who brought unity in the community with his wonderful presence, open and welcoming. Fr. Remigio brought many friends and priests of Friuli area to support and sustain the work of the Xaverian Missionaries. A confrere reflected: “I don’t know if other confreres experience my same dilemma in writing a few note about Fr. Remigio. I asked myself why. The only answer I gather is because he was a person who did not like to speak about himself or others, but he preferred to listen.”
In 1981 he was transferred to the Mother House of Parma, for better care and medical treatment. There he spent the last four years of his life reading, conversing with visitors, and especially in rehabilitation and therapy, with much personal sacrifice. His physical conditions worsened in the fall of 1984 until the spring of 1985. At the beginning of April 1985 Fr. Remigio was admitted at the Piccole Figlie Clinic, without any improvement.
He died at the Mother House in Parma on April 18 1985, and his remains were laid to rest at Villa Del Ferro, his own native town, close to family members and his own brother, Fr. Lucino Piacere.
