1919-2005

Father Marco was the son of Angelo Lonati and Rosa Sgotti and was born at Mazzano (Brescia) on April 21, 1919. He entered our Congregation from the Brescia Seminary in 1940. In 1941 he made his religious profession and in 1944 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1946 he went to Brazil and after a brief stay in São Paulo he was assigned to Boa Vista in the Rio Branco Prelature (1948); he was entrusted with traveling in the interior. In 1949 he founded the mission of Surumú and worked there until 1953. He then began again to organize and accompany missionaries going to the native communities in the interior. He did this until 1962.
His demanding life-style (long travels in an equatorial climate) gave rise to cervical arthrosis. He underwent surgery but the operation was unsuccessful and he had great difficulty walking. He was forced to work in Southern Brazil as an assistant pastor or helping out in the scattered chapels in the savanna: Botucatú, Três de Maio, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio do Oeste and Imirim. From 1982 to 1986 he was the pastor of Jardím Peri in São Paulo. He then acted as assistant pastor until 1994 the year he was forced to retire for reasons of health to Alpignano.
On April 28, 2005 after ten long years of pain and prayer his Calvary came to an end and he went home to heaven. He was 86 years old, a religious for 64 years and a priest for 61.
His funeral was held on Saturday, April 30. Msgr. Aldo Mongiano presided; he was assisted by the parish priest of Ciliverghe and Father Antonio Merigo. In his homily the presider noted Father Marco’s strong and sometimes brusque personality as well as his great generosity. He was part of the first team to go into Rio Branco and opened the way for the future evangelization of the Macuxi native population.
His sister, Sister Dorina, with members of her congregation from Venaria attended the funeral. His nephews and nieces along with confrères from Rivoli and Turin were also present. After Mass his body was taken to Ciliverghe (Brescia) for burial. Father Antonio Merigo accompanied the remains.
Father Giuseppe Villa


TESTIMONIALS

Msgr. Aldo Mongiano’s homily
Father Marco Lonati lived his last years in silent recollection and out of the spotlight – something he had done his whole life long. Now the Father has called him home to give him his reward. In his farewell to the apostles, Jesus said: “I go to prepare a place for you then I will return to take you with me so that you will be where I am.” Father Marco has gone to where the Lord and all those He has saved can be found.
Father Lonati was a man with a strong personality. At times he seemed difficult and made one think of the Boanerges Brothers in the Gospel. But he was capable of true and tender friendship as well. He lived by a few, simple principles to which he was ever faithful. I was his classmate during our years of formation but then our different destinies separated us for a long time.
When in obedience to the Pope I went to Roraima I became immediately aware that Father Lonati had worked there as a missionary with Msgr. Nepote and others of his confrères. Many still spoke of him and remembered him as a friend. He was in that group of missionaries who arrived in Roraima on June 14, 1948 – at that time it was called Rio Branco.
The region was uncharted territory for missionaries and for our Congregation. It was ripe for discovery. The few missionaries who made up that pioneer group were given various tasks: Father Lonati was made a roving missionary who would work among the Macuxi Indians in the extreme northeast far from the capital, Boa Vista. He had to take up the work initiated by the Benedictines – even though he knew nothing of the native language or culture. Msgr. Nepote came from the East African Missions where life was absolutely different. His past experience was of little help in this new Latin American world. Altogether it was a very difficult undertaking.
Father Lonati rode great distance on horseback along barely discernible trails under a burning equatorial sun often with inadequate provisions. He visited villages dozens of kilometers distant from one another and administered the sacraments to Macuxi who had been evangelized by the Benedictines.
He was responsible for opening the first mission in the Surumú area. A few fazendas already existed in the region but many others were gradually being established in native villages.
The Consolata Missionary Sisters came to work with him. They were generous and competent collaborators in missionary and health work. For many long years Father Lonati spent himself in Roraima. Then because of problems with his cervical vertebrae – he could not walk normally – he was forced to move to Southern Brazil. He engaged in pastoral work in São Paulo where he was not obliged to walk so much. He left Roraima for good but he had been one of the pioneers who had opened up new possibilities in that region. Gradually the missionaries who followed him would better understand local problems and all their ramifications.
Father Lonati led the way. He may not have realized how very complex the situation was but his pioneer work was not in vain. May he intercede from heaven for those native populations who lead a Christian life but inevitably suffer from past and present mistakes.
“I no longer call you servants but friends.” The Lord puts his trust in missionaries – however inept they may be. He uses them and their shortcomings to spread the Kingdom. Amen.

A generous and heroic missionary
News of dear Father Marco Lonati’s death made me sad and joyful. Sad because a great friend had died and joyful in the realization that he was in heaven after so many years suffering a crippling illness that curtailed his natural energy. He was a tireless worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
We met in Turin. He was coming from the Brescia seminary where he had completed his philosophy studies and I was returning from Varallo Sesia after my novitiate. We sat next to each other and without saying very much I quickly realized he was a serious, dedicated young man. Even though he was not yet professed he displayed a great love of the Congregation and the missions. He was the first to accept any sacrifice; he was cheerful, generous and solicitous for the good of his confrères. We appreciated his company and good nature. The second world war that ruined Italy and our Motherhouse as well forced us to shorten and then abandon our examinations and evacuate to Uviglie (Rosignano Monferrato).
We knew hard work in the fields; we did our best to cooperate and make the necessary sacrifices to bring in the harvest and perform all the other tasks involved. Young cleric Lonati said little but did not spare himself working during the day and spending the night defending our farm from marauding bands of thieves.
There was need of assistants at the minor seminary in Varallo Sesia. I was assigned to this new task and so I was separated from Lonati until I met him again on ordination day. We sailed to Brazil together on the Argentina steamship.
He accompanied Msgr. Nepote to Rio Branco (today known as Roraima) where he engaged in a hard and problem-filled apostolate with zeal, generosity and enthusiasm. He devoted himself totally to working with Msgr. Nepote. He never said much but plunged right into his work. He would rest for only the briefest of periods. He traveled on foot, by horseback, in a canoe, on a bicycle or motorcycle and finally with a car that never really worked as it should.
He was gruff but kind-hearted and spent all his time evangelizing Indians and the half-civilized. He never complained about the sacrifices he faced nor the physical sufferings he endured. He confronted his problems without saying much – a smile on his face and a cigarette in his mouth.
On January 1, 1963 I didn’t feel well but I had to celebrate Mass at 5:30 even though I had assisted Msgr. Nepote at midnight Mass the night before. I dragged myself to Father Lonati’s room to ask him to take my place. He had just returned from a long horseback trip in the Amazonian jungle and was dead tired. He did not hesitate to say my Mass. I celebrated a little later and was then taken to the hospital for an emergency operation. Father Lonati stayed with me throughout the operation and until I woke up seven hours later.
When Father Riccardo Silvestri died, Father Lonati took his place in the Mucajai parish. His devotion to the Northeastern immigrants was total. Charity work, religious instruction, weddings and countless baptisms as well as hard physical work in the Church – for all these things he was loved and respected by everyone.
This very hard work, these excruciating journeys and the lack of proper nourishment contributed to his serious vertebrae problems – especially in the area of the cervix. He was forced to leave Roraima and go to São Paulo where he underwent a very serious operation. Through physicians’ error the operation was not a success. When Father Lonati left the hospital he needed a cane to stand. In spite of this he was eager to accept a new assignment from his superiors and did all he could in the Consolata parish in São Paulo. He needed rest and special attention so he was transferred to Alpignano in Italy. He understood his situation and accepted this as God’s will.
I visited him several times in Italy. He thought often of Brazil and endured the sufferings his sickness brought upon him. One day I found him saddened. He wept and said, “You see, Father Zintu, we worked together in Roraima and now you continue your work. I am reduced to nothing – a worn out rag to be thrown away.” I tried to comfort him reminding him of what our Founder thought – the sick were the thuribles of our community. I spoke to him about St. Thérèse who was an ideal missionary although closed away in her convent in Lisieux – so much so that she was proclaimed the Patroness of the Missions. He was comforted by my words but still expressed his regret at being a burden on the community.
On April 28, 2005 the Lord carried him home to give him the crown of an apostle and a martyr. Both Our Lady, the Consolata, and our Founder welcomed their generous and heroic son joyfully. He persevered to the end, faithful to his vocation.
Requiescat in pace!
Father Giuseppe Zintu

He had a tender heart
There’s a new star in heaven and a flower has been added to God’s crown: Father Lonati. I came to know him in Alpignano, at the end of his journey as a missionary. He was already sick and needed a cane and wheelchair to get about. I believe that Father Marco was one of those individuals with great hearts that nature mocks by giving them a rough exterior. His internal problems no doubt made it difficult for him to be serene and accessible. One thing is certain: underneath the rough exterior there beat a kind and giving heart.
In three years at Alpignano I remember his routine grumbling but more importantly his patience and resignation – I would call it acceptance of his disability and a love of Our Lady and interest in the future of the missions.
Just before my departure I went to greet him. He was very moved and said: “Have courage, Our Lady, the Consolata, is always at your side; be patient and you will see your problems disappear.”
Thank you, Father Marco, for your support and for having taught me that “dreams do not end at dawn.” I am sure that you will continue to watch over us – probably grumbling – but always affectionately and lovingly like a father. Thanks for everything.
Bro Maurizio Emanueli