(1930-2004)

Father Augustinho Squizzato’s life was one of varied commitments and projects. His choices were often surprising – his life was a ongoing search for diverse ports of call. The early years of his priesthood and his seminary formation revealed a good missionary but one who was always on the verge of changing direction: parish, seminary, military medical service, the novitiate. He was the Regional Superior of Brazil for three years, spent some time outside the Institute and then worked for nine years in Mozambique.

Biography
“Augustinho Squizzato was the son of Jacinto Squizzato and Ana Ghisoni. He was born on August 13, 1930 in Urubici, Commune of Bom Retiro in the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil. On February 9, 1942 he attended high school at the San Francesco Saverio Seminary in Rio d’Oeste (SC). In March 1947 he moved on to the major seminary of ‘Santa Teresinha do Menino Jesus’ in the state of São Manuel (SP) for three years of philosophy. On March 4, 1950 he entered the novitiate in Sorocaba (SP) where Ottavio Occelli was his novice master. On March 5, 1951 he made his temporary profession and on March 5, 1954 he made his perpetual profession. On December 8, 1954 – the Marian Year – he was ordained to the priesthood by His Excellency, Msgr. Henrique Golland Trindade, the Archbishop of Botucatu.
After ordination he was given a series of assignments: assistant at the São Manuel philosophy and theology seminary (1955-1959); assistant pastor at Nossa Senhora Consolata in Rio de Janeiro (1960-1961); military chaplain at the Central Army Hospital (H.C.E.) in Rio de Janeiro (1961-1964); seminary director and pastor of Nossa Senhora da Salette in Erexim (1964-1965); seminary director and pastor of Nossa Senhora Consolata in Rio d’Oeste (1965-1966); again military chaplain at H.C.E. and assistant pastor at Nossa Senhora Consolata in Rio de Janeiro in charge of pastoral work and other activities. From 1970 to 1973 he was appointed Regional Superior of Brazil and then director of the seminary in Erexim. After studying in Rome he became pastor of Nossa Senhora Consolata in Brasilia (1976-1977); master of novices at Aparecida in São Manuel (1977-1978); pastor of São Manuel (1978-1981). From February 1981 until December 1988 he lived outside the IMC community.
On his return he lived in the regional house and devoted himself to study and the ministry. He was then assigned to the region of Mozambique where he worked for nine years. In 1997 he suffered cerebral lesions in a traffic accident and was forced to spend long periods of treatment in Italy and later Brazil. During the last four years of his life he suffered from Parkinson’s disease and lived in the São Paulo Regional House. He died on January 25, 2004 after a fall.
Father Michelangelo Piovano, the Regional Superior, conducted the funeral at the Consolata Parish – many Consolata missionaries and a host of friends were present. His body was laid to rest in the Consolata tomb of the “Chora Menino” cemetery in São Paulo. Father Augustinho was 73 years old, a religious for 53 years and a priest for 49.”
Father Michelangelo Piovano – P. Jordão Maria Pessatti

Simple and deep faith
I knew Father Augustinho in 1994 in Mozambique when I was appointed assistant pastor at Holy Family in Machava.
In the few months we spent together I came to know a man who had suffered much in life but whose faith was simple and profound.
He was a man of study whose contacts with the faithful were simple and clear – at times he ran the risk of being a perfectionist.
His efforts in time and energy with Machava catechists and the Legion of Mary were impressive – he was very much involved in their formation. An accident in Lichinga upset his already delicate health. He underwent surgery in Turin and then returned to Machava in Mozambique. After only a few months he was forced to go back to Brazil where he ended his earthly life. With his death yet another fellow traveler on my missionary journey has departed. May he rest in peace.
Father Gianfranco Graziola