1932-2004

Father Tebaldi was born the son of Gualtiero Tebaldi and Maria Golfarelli on November 24, 1932 in Ostellato (Ferrara). He entered the high school seminary in Ravenna in October 1945 and on August 5, 1947 he entered our Congregation. In 1952 he made his religious profession. In 1954 he was sent to the Pontifical University “Urbaniana” to study theology and in 1957 he was ordained to the priesthood.

The Mission
From 1958 to 1960 he taught literature at the seminary in Castello di Brianza and afterward was assigned to Kenya where he taught Latin in the diocesan seminary of Nyeri from 1961 to 1963.
In 1963 Msgr. Carlo Cavallera, the Bishop of Nyeri, was making preparations to hand the diocese over to the local clergy and launch the Northern Frontier District missionary adventure that culminated in the creation of the diocese of Marsabit. Father Tebaldi was very much involved in the initial phase of this project exploring the possibility of establishing one or more schools in the Marsabit area.
While missions were being built in Baragoi and Laisamis Father Tebaldi slept in a tent with Fathers Michele Stallone and Luigi Graiff in that suffocating tropical climate. They worked very hard to get close to the nomadic people of Samburu. This was an extremely difficult and dangerous mission – both Father Stallone (1965) and Father Graiff (1981) died as martyrs in this endeavor.
From 1964 to 1968 he was the president of the Catholic secondary school in Gaichanjiru; then from 1968 to 1973 he taught religious culture and Commonwealth History in the state secondary school in Nanyuki. At the same time he was preparing religious education texts in line with the state syllabus that would be published and distributed by the Nyeri diocesan press.
He did this work with great passion and in a letter to Father General (September 9, 1970) wrote: “We are doing very serious work and there is much cooperation: I work on these texts with my students. Catholic Action boys are helping me recruit Protestant and non-religious boys for this work … Please ask the Lord to assist me in these endeavors and give me the strength to live my priestly life with integrity.” From 1974 to 1977 he was in charge of the “youth section” of the Nyeri Diocesan Pastoral Centre. It was a time of intense, feverish activity and constant contact with young people, parents and teachers. He worked hard to solve the many problems that emerged.

Work in Italy
Upon his return to Italy he was placed in charge of Da Casa Madre. From 1983 to 1988 he collaborated extensively with OPAM (Work of Promoting Worldwide Literacy). He traveled up and down Italy giving conferences and promoting this organization; he also worked closely with UNESCO and made on-site surveys in developing countries.
He was a dynamic advocate for Africa at conferences, round-table discussions and meetings. His impassioned efforts to sweep away the stereotypes, commonplaces and third-world rhetoric that clouded the issues reminded one of Jesus cleansing the temple. For him Africa was not some beautiful dreamland of rewarding activities nor were his speeches travelogues or self-aggrandizing descriptions of his work aimed at eager audiences. “Africa is a daughter or sister; one suddenly realizes she is not an infant.” He had enormous affection, pride and concern for Africa and separation caused him pain – he loved her like a daughter, sister – maybe even a mother.
In 1985 he made a prolonged trip to Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia and visited every conceivable type of school meeting with teachers and students. He listened to their hopes and disappointments and reported them to planning directors at OPAM. He compiled his impressions in a booklet, Africa Mia, that appeared as a supplement in the OPAM monthly newsletter (December 1985, no. 12).
When he completed his work Don Carlo Muratore (the President of OPAM) praised his accomplishments: “Honesty compels me to attest to your total, disinterested devotion to OPAM and your spirit of self-sacrifice. You have traveled the length of the country sowing the good seed, working for people in underdeveloped countries… I don’t know what door the Lord has opened for you. But I am certain that wherever you go you will do good work.” The Vicariate of Rome appointed him diocesan and provincial assistant to the Italian Catholic Teachers’ Association - AIMC (1987 to 1997).

Journalist and Writer

Father Giovannino was a versatile journalist and writer. He worked in the Milan editorial office of the Catholic daily newspaper Avvenire and the PIME periodical, Mondo e Missione. From 1989 to 2002 he was the in editorial staff of Popoli e Missione published by the Pontifical Missionary Endeavor (Pontificie Opere Missionarie).
He published religious education texts and an anthology of African stories for the schools of Kenya; in Italy he wrote a noteworthy series of essays on mission subjects in recent years. In 1994 he published “Il Sinodo Africano” a detailed account of the Roman Synod of the African Churches. The text covered everything discussed in these sessions: theology, historical memory, current goals, future prospects and present-day challenges.
In 1995, he wrote further reflections on themes that came up during the synod: “Sulle Strade della Speranza – Fermenti di Chiesa in Africa” [On the Paths of Hope – Church Ferment in Africa]. This text confronted the many real problems that were so honestly discussed during the synod. He saw these problems as ripening fruit – bitter but full of promise.
In 1997 he wrote “Africa – the Days of Exodus.” The work is clearly autobiographical. The author is convinced that there is a single underlying theme in everything happening in Africa today, the upheavals in so many countries: a desire for change. “I witnessed the brilliant accomplishments that followed independence,” the author writes, “and I am convinced that Africa will survive this turmoil.” Father Tebaldi saw Africa’s present travails as part of the journey to salvation – an Exodus.
In November 1999 he published, “La Missione racconta – I Missionari della Consolata in cammino con i popoli” [“Consolata Missionaries in the World”( English edition)]. This narrative covers the 100-year history of our missionaries and describes their past accomplishments and present efforts – expressing the charism we inherited from Blessed Joseph Allamano.
In 2001 he published another book, “La mia vita per la missione” [My Life for the Mission], a biography of our founder. It is an unedited picture of Joseph Allamano, a man very much of his times who strove for sanctity and was consumed with fervor for the missions.
His skill as a writer , his life-long missionary ideals, his love for our religious family and Africa have made this a work of incomparable beauty. Among the many stirring passages there is this description of the missionary: He is “an extraordinary and pathetic figure who treads the roads of Africa for the sake of faith while others tread these same roads seeking land, wealth or cheap labor. Africa is the backdrop for his singular talents: outlandish imagination, frugal life-style, incredible physical stamina. He loves Africa with a passion – almost an obsession, something in his skin, his bones, his very soul. It is an undiagnosed illness: the Africa syndrome. He is more a worker than a thinker. He is not a genius but a builder of churches, missions, schools and hospitals. He establishes faith communities.
He is sometimes mistaken for his brother – the colonist, and superficially he resembles him. But his soul is totally different. He does not behave as the colonial; he is neither proud nor superior. The missionary is close to the people and speaks their language. He works with his hands; he teaches children to read and write; he teaches farmers how to use animals in the fields; he teaches workers how to use measuring instruments; a man of religion, he teaches catechism, conducts liturgy and proclaims the coming Kingdom” (pp. 197-198).
The missionary’s goal is “to effect the secret and intrinsic transformation of man, regardless of background, into a candidate for human and divine perfection. The missions are not just a collection of projects and achievements; they are a dialogue with the man in the street, an effort to understand his aspirations and to help him find satisfaction. Men and women missionaries sacrifice their human weakness on this burning bush; they see the face of God in the face of their neighbor” (ibid., p. 204).
Father Giovannino’s wrote ceaselessly. In 1994 he published “L’ultimo carovaniere” [The Last Traveler] a biography of Father Gaudenzio Barlassina. Father Gaudenzio was an extraordinary missionary both in Africa and as Superior General of the Congregation. In the midst of all this literary activity he wrote brief biographies of missionaries for their obituaries, collaborated with missionary magazines, diocesan newspapers and L’Osservatore Romano.

His Death
Father Tebaldi suffered from cardiovascular disease for many years but it was an unexpected illness that brought about the end. He was admitted into Santo Spirito Hospital with acute abdominal pain on October 7, 2004. It was acute pancreatitis. His condition was so serious that doctors could do nothing. On Sunday, October 10, he went home to heaven. He was 71 years old and had been a religious for 51 years, a priest for 48.
His funeral took place in the General House on Tuesday. Father Vincenzo Mura, the local superior, presided at the celebration. He spoke kindly of our brother and his passion for the missions. He believed that our missionary vocation obliged all of us to walk with the poor: “Father Tebaldi leaves a void; he could establish relationships and friendship so easily – he now brings that talent to heaven.”
The words of the Superior General (who was conducting a visitation in the Congo at the time) were read. “May the Lord grant Father Tebaldi peace. He worked and gave of himself so unstintingly for the Kingdom. I feel two things very strongly: the need to thank God for having given this man to our congregation. He was so lively, creative and down-to-earth. I cannot forget the hours we spent discussing problems, making plans for articles or books. He was always passionate about whatever he did.
My other feeling is one of great admiration for his missionary zeal and his love of our Congregation. He would criticize everything – but never the missions, our Congregation or the poor people of Africa to whom he had devoted his energy and talents. He leaves behind a long series of books – but even more important he left us the example of his passion for the missions.
May he continue to inspire us from heaven, instilling faithfulness to our vocation and that missionary charism that made him so proud to be a Consolata Missionary.”
After the Funeral Fathers Vincenzo Mura, Norberto Louro and Giano Benedetti accompanied his body to San Vito di Dogato (Ferrara) where he was buried in the family tomb.
Editors of Da Casa Madre.