(1925-2004)

Father Mario was born on February 12, 1925 in Arcore (Milan), the son of Alfredo Teruzzi and Maria Frigerio. He entered the Institute in 1948; made his religious profession in 1952 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.
His first assignment was in Niassa, Mozambique, where he worked in the chapel schools at Cobué, Unango and Massangulo. He displayed a deep religious spirit in shouldering this difficult responsibility single-handed. “During those months in Africa I realized that life was duty not pleasure. I believe this is how it always is. Therefore I am ready for anything – I am not afraid. have been a missionary priest for little more than a year and every time I think of my priestly dig-nity I feel the need to strive for perfection.” (September 17, 1959: letter to Father Domenico Fiorina, Superior General).
From 1961 to 1965 he was the superior at Cobué – the difficulties he encountered made him realize that being a superior was not a privilege but rather an occasion for more work and sacri-fice. From 1965 to 1967 he worked at the mission in Unango. There was an anti-colonial war in progress and times were very hard. Threats came from gangs on all sides and he was eventually arrested. His near escape from exploding mines, grenades and machine gun ambushes made him feel like a “victim ready for the sacrifice.” His hearing was permanently damaged.
From 1969 to 1973 he did pastoral work in Roraima, first in Boa Vista and later in Manaus were he acted as procurator. He engaged in parish work with renewed fervor and managed to re-organize pastoral activities successfully. In September 1971 he was involved in an airplane acci-dent. He and four others were traveling on the Prelacy airplane when it crashed – he was seriously injured. He was taken to São Paulo for a prolonged period of recovery. “I was ready to enter heaven,” he wrote to a treasurer friend, “but St. Peter was not willing to accept me. My accounts weren’t in order!”
His work in the vineyard of the Lord proceeded energetically and successfully. He was not satisfied, though, and admitted that the Lord’s timetable was different from man’s. One had to work in faith – success was not always in sight. In a letter to Father Mario Bianchi, the Superior General, he writes: “I am convinced that it is pointless to watch the clock – time doesn’t mean much to the Lord. I want to feel myself at one with Christ, willing to accept setbacks and the slow pace of change. I am satisfied to disappear into the immense history of salvation, God’s work … In the meantime I can assure you that I approach each new difficulty with common sense; I spare myself nothing. I know that at times my faith falls short – I wish I had more faith, that I could purify my feelings through the cross; too often I think I am necessary when I really am not … Don’t think I am discouraged or pessimistic: I believe in my commitment “to be a missionary to the very end.” (July 12, 1971).
In 1974 he returned to Italy and took over the job of Mission Procurator in Turin. He dis-played a spirit of genuine service and worked intensely to meet the needs of his confrères in the missions. In 1980 he went back to Roraima to do pastoral work in Manaus and Taiano.
From 1983 to 1989 he was superior of Certosa di Pesio in Italy and worked with the “Società Podistica Amatori” of Mondovi to give new life to the ancient monastery; everyone was im-pressed with his athletic and folklore savvy. “Father Mario’s energy and eagerness to work im-pressed us from the start; we admired his integrity as a man of religion and “life.” He turned the most difficult situations (relations with municipal authorities, the Regional Park Authority and competing groups in Chiusa Pesio) into occasions for friendship and collaboration.” (October 6, 1989).
He then went back to Turin to do two years work as Mission Procurator. In 1993 he returned to Roraima to be the pastor at Manaus. In 1996 he returned to Italy for good. His health was de-clining but he continued his work in our houses in Rovereto and Marina Palmense. On May 7, 2004 he suffered a heart attack and went to his reward.
Father Mario was a first-class missionary. The spirit of obedience led him to work in so many different areas and he always did his best. He was always humble and generous and wherever he went he created an atmosphere of friendship and sharing.
Many parishioners came to the wake and funeral on May 9th. Father Franco Gioda, the Re-gional Superior, presided at the service. The Vicar General of the Diocese of Fermo and parish priests from the area concelebrated. His remains were taken to Arcore and on the following Tues-day there was another crowded funeral service. Msgr. Aldo Mongiano (who had worked with Fa-ther Teruzzi in Mozambique and Roraima) presided at the service. Msgr. Carillo Gritti, Father Gioda, confrères from Bevera and Bedizzole and priests from Arcore concelebrated.
In his homily Msgr. Mongiano recalled moving details of Father Teruzzi’s work in northern Mozambique during the troubled times of the war for independence, his well-known misadven-tures, his apostolate among the Indians in Roraima and Manaus , his work as Mission Procurator and his pastoral efforts in various communities of the Institute in Italy.
“Father Teruzzi,” the celebrant affirmed, “was a true ‘man of God’; he displayed a spirit of openness and service wherever Providence sent him. He was a man of deep and genuine human-ity – he made friends with everyone. He was involved in the human and social problems of the people among whom he lived. He died bringing the Eucharist to the sick on the first Friday of May. His departure from this life was emblematic of a missionary’s life: to bring Christ to every-one, especially those who are suffering.”
In his spiritual testament Father Mario: “The missionary priesthood was my noblest ideal – it was the crowning event of my life. I have never regretted being a priest and a missionary – I have always been happy and I am happy now. To suffer persecution for justice sake in mission territo-ries (Mozambique) is part of the heritage of a missionary life; but even at home there have been hardships. I pardon and I thank … it is for this very reason that we will be blessed!
I have always worked enthusiastically; I have loved the Institute so much and I am grateful to my superiors and to everyone who helped and encouraged me to achieve the missionary ideal.”
Editors of Da Casa Madre