Odoki Jimmy
Father John Scalabrini (RIP) – A life dedicated to serving God and Saving Humanity
Born 13 December 1934 – Died 04 October 2016
Rekindling a broken relationship with his father
Father John Scalabrini’s father spoke to him for the first time in over 20 years when the priest made a brief stopover in Italy on his way to Germany. “The old man was very sick. He requested to see the place where I worked before he became too weak to move. It was early 1974.” In August of the same year, arrangements were made for Tranquillo Scalabrini to visit Uganda. “We took him around different places in Gulu, and people came to greet him and give him gifts. He was so overwhelmed that he never forgot his experience in Gulu and Uganda.”
While his visit did not change his attitude towards his son’s long absence from home and choice of work, it gradually softened Tranquillo Scalabrini’s heart. “Such was the impact of this visit that Dad offered to pay for the air ticket and stay in Nairobi when I travelled to Kenya in 1975 to sort out outstanding Gulu diocese administration issues with Bishop Kihangire following my deportation from Uganda. He was so happy that his son, who had initially sought to borrow from his brothers to fund his travel to Kenya, could accept his offer.
One and a half years later, Father John Scalabrini received the news that his father was bedridden. The priest was on hand that wintry day on January 06, 1977, to administer the last sacraments to his dying father. The old man managed a few words. “My son,” he said, I have done so much damage to your life. Find it in your heart to forgive me.” Father John Scalabrini says that he smiled and he felt happy. His father smiled back and said. “I can now go and meet my maker. I now know that someone will receive me happily.” His equally sick mother was present too. They all smiled in unity. Everybody’s prayer that unity and love comes back to the Scalabrini family was finally answered. Not even the fact that Tranquillo Scalabrini had bequeathed some money and his house to Father John Scalabrini could beat the feeling of a once-lost love reborn in death.
Life in Uganda
A baby-faced Father John Scalabrini. (Photo courtesy of New Vision).
On Monday, May 04, 1964, only two years after his ordination to priesthood, a baby-faced 30-year-old
Father John Scalabrini arrived in Uganda for the first time to take up his new assignment in the Northern Uganda Catholic diocese of Gulu. Located 340 km North of the Capital Kampala, it was one of the most culturally rich dioceses in the country at the time. The young, energetic priest traversed the length and breadth of the diocese on a bicycle to preach. From Awach to Pawel, he prayed and administered sacraments to Christians who fondly called him “Latin Padre” (the baby/child priest) in reference to his boyish looks.
Awach Parish was established by Father John Scalabrini.
Father John Scalabrini soon settled in the community and visited regularly on his bike.
People loved him, and they were always happy to welcome him. He sometimes spent several days in the villages with the community, preaching and giving sacraments.
Fr John Scalabrini loved and cared for children.
Fr John Scalabrini baptizes a child in Gulu.
He would camp in tiny grass-thatched huts specially prepared for him by the local people.
Father John Scalabrini during a visit to his parishioners
His first appointment was to develop Awach parish,
40 km outside of Gulu. “There wasn’t much here except a small mud brick chapel,” he would often recall. This was a deprived area, and I would often drive 40 km to Gulu town to access services. My first project was to dig our own borehole in Awach. I would also drive the same distance to find the only maize milling machine in the entire district then.”
“With support from Acholi elders and with donations from friends in Italy, I set up a modern church in Awach. I also constructed a priest’s and a nun’s residence. I set up a modern section for Awach Primary School. Later, I worked with the local Christians to build grass-thatched primary schools in Palaro Owaro, Oroko, Gwendia, Patuda- River Aswa, Omel Kuro, Payibona, and surrounding areas. I worked very closely with the Christians. The women used to prepare the grass. The men prepared the ground. I provided the food and supervised them,” he narrated.
“Again, with financial assistance from Italian friends, I managed to buy a tractor for cultivation. I also mobilized the community to grow millet, cassava, Maize, and rice. I also introduced the first maize milling machine in the diocese. We later offered maize and rice millers to several parishes in the diocese.”
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