Rev. Fr. Angelo Stefanizzi was called to Eternal Rest in the Lord, on Wednesday the 03rd February 2010. at the Father’s House, Lewella, Kandy. His mortal remains lie at the Jesuits' House, Lewella and the funeral will be held on Friday the 05th February 2010 at 3.00 p.m. at Lewella.
He had been in the Jesuit Infirmary at Lewella Kandy for quite some time confined to his wheel chair. Amazingly his clarity of mind, his apostolic zeal and his devotion to the Eucharist and to prayer never showed any diminution.
Born in Matino Lecce, Italy, on 2nd October 1919, Angelo entered the Jesuit novitiate in Naples in August 1936 and did his philosophical studies in Gallarate. After his regency in Bari, he came to Kurseong in India for his Theological studies, and on 21st November 1949 was ordained in the same city. After studying Tamil in South India he came to Ceylon in 1952 and went directly to Kammala for the study of Sinhala. From 1953 up to early 1967 he was continuously at Yatiyantota, either as Assistant Parish Priest or Parish Priest. He moved to Dehiowita, then to the new parish of Gurugalla and to Dehiowita and in 1983 to Maliboda.
It was around this time that he discovered the Kolping Movement and was deeply impressed by its potential to help in the development of faith and supporting community building. He started the Kolping Centre in Deraniyagala, and after a short spell at Eheliyagoda, he attended the Kolping Conference in Chile in early 1993.
Since that time Fr Angelo Stefanizzi, while continuing his work tirelessly as a pastor, he paid much attention to the work of the Kolping Movement, using Deraniyagala as the base.
In September 2000 Fr Stefanizzi was transferred to Manresa Retreat House, Batticaloa, where he experienced a remarkable rejuvenation as he devoted himself to enrich the Candidates to the Society by sharing his enormous pastoral experience. As the weight of the years and the demands of his worsening arthritis made movement increasing difficult, he moved to the Novitiate in Dalugama, both to be cared for by the young people and to inspire them by the example of his life. Later he transferred to “Nirmala”, the Jesuit Residence in Bambalapitiya, and then to the newly established Jesuit Infirmary in Lewella, attached to the Fatima Retreat House community, where he was tenderly cared for until his death on 03 February 2010.
Let us praise and thank the Lord for this courageous and generous missionary, who has been the source of inspiration for a countless number of people of all religions, languages and cultures in Sri Lanka and abroad. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and the reward of his tireless labours.( By Rev. Fr. Anton Weerasinghe SJ ) |
