BORN: Atella, (Potenza) - 17.09.1941
FINAL PROFESSION: Verona - 25.09.1964
ORDINATION: De Wildt, South Africa - 22.06.1969
DECEASED: Pretoria, Sudafrica - 08.12.2001
AGE: 60
Fr Michael received from his family a good heart, a strong character and a great enthusiasm and dynamism.
He entered our seminary of Cadellara (VR) at 12. After his novitiate at Grottaferrata he went to Verona for his studies. During the second year of theology he went as perpetually professed to South Africa to complete his studies in the seminary of Pretoria and was ordained priest in Mmakau in 1969.
Together with the other confreres he tried to renew the ministry and the missionary apostolate in that African nation, in the spirit of Vatican II. After one year of reflection and study in pastoral matters in Kenya he returned to South Africa in 1976 and started opening many initiatives for the faith formation of the laity and for charitable activities. He entered with intelligence in the South African social situation and put up projects and structures to assist in formation and education.
He was chosen as first Vice Provincial of the communities of South Africa and Tanzania. He made an effort to revitalised the Stigmatine religious life in our communities and houses of formation.
The evening of 8 December 2001 Fr Michael was shot and killed by three young men in Soshanguve, near Ga-Rankuwa at 30 Kilometres from Pretoria, while on his ministry. During his funeral the archbishop of Pretoria in the homily presented Fr Michael as a model for all Christians, priests and religious. He did not hesitate to call him a “messiah” sent by God’s providence to proclaim salvation to South Africa.
