(1932-2003)

Father Mauro was born on August 19, 1932 in Lissone (Province of Milan) the son of Innocente Calderoni and Rosa Elli. Coming directly from the Milan Diocesan Seminary where he had completed second year Liceo studies, he entered the Institute in 1961. In 1963 he made his religious profession and in 1967 he was ordained to the priesthood.
In 1969 he left for Mozambique; he worked in Massinga as parish priest and professor for eight years – until 1977. In 1976 the Communist Party in power nationalized the missions. Father Mauro became something of a prisoner in his own house which he was forced to share with others. He could not carry out his ministry.
On July 2, 1976, the day after nationalization he wrote to Father Mario Bianchi, the Superior General: “Please say a prayer for us so that in all these events we may discern the will of God who wants us united and detached from the things of the world. Certainly this is a heavy trial and we don’t believe we deserve it. I greet you united to the whole missionary family and I assure you that in spite of everything our morale is high.”
Some days later (July 7) he wrote to Father Manuel Tavares, Vice-Superior General: “We are of one mind – determined to remain … Christians have been informed that the priests and sisters will not leave – and if they are sent away it will not be willingly. After the first unforeseen blow our morale has not wavered; the attack did not destroy us – rather it filled us with wonder and compassion for those who inflicted it. We can only hope for your prayers: God is great and his plans will certainly not be confounded by human efforts.” These efforts however grew more fierce and his protests brought about his expulsion from the country.
He went to Portugal where he worked as treasurer of the house in Cacém from 1978 to 1982. Expulsion from Mozambique made a profound impression upon him – this and his deteriorating health led him to ask for a time of rest with his family in Lissone. This rest period extended until 1988 when his legal situation was resolved and he was once again assigned to Mozambique although he continued to live in Italy. On November 6, 2003 he suffered an unforeseen heart attack and went home to Our Father’s House. Father Ernestino Venturi, confrères from the Bevera house and many parish priests attended his funeral. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery in Lissone.
Editors of Da Casa Madre

Servant of the Missions

I was acquainted with Father Mauro Calderoni during our years of theology. He was 29 years old – older than most of us – but fit in easily. He was exuberant, generous and a great sports fan.
We were both sent to work in Mozambique. I was assigned to the north and he to the south. He was zealous and ready for anything in those years he worked as a missionary. For a variety of reasons we both ended up in Portugal working for the seminaries. His optimism and enthusiasm led him to work unreservedly.
When our work in Portugal concluded we both went back to Mozambique but his failing health forced him to return to Italy. There he launched a gigantic project to promote the missions. His efforts roused both criticism and admiration. He became our main assistance – we all turned to him for our needs and he sent us hundreds of parcels at his own expense.
I last met Father Mauro in Lissone a few years ago – he was making up one of his “parcels.” He told me enthusiastically about Radio Maria of which he was a fan. He was happy that it had started in Mozambique. He was a man, a priest and a missionary. He was known to everyone as approachable and trustworthy. He has left his mark as a priest.
Father Salvatore Forner

He had a great missionary spirit

I knew Father Mauro at Massinga in 1974-1975 the first year of Mozambique’s independence. He was working at the Mangonha mission and was zealous in promoting the welfare of young people through education. He build and inaugurated a high school in Massinga. It was an enormous project and he was dedicated heart and soul to seeing it through – he even taught in the school. He taught mathematics and physics while overseeing the building work. The daily trip from the Mangonha mission to the school in Massinga was not easy and required sacrifice and devotion even though Father Armanni had paved the seven-kilometer road with stone dust from the river.
When anyone asked, “How are you?” he would respond “As God wills.” He had an extraordinary missionary spirit which served him well in Italy where he did so much to promote the missions among the priests of his region. Many of these same priests were present at this funeral. His work on behalf of the Mozambique missions was an enormous boon to all the missionaries in that country – all of whom mourn his passing.
Father Ernestino Venturi

He was generous and gregarious

Father Mauro organized courses and spent much time training catechists at the Catechetical Center in Mangonha (Massinga). He was exceptionally creative and provided trainees with a solid spirituality nourished by prayer.
At the time of the revolution he did all he could to strengthen the faith of Christians. He traveled through the villages explaining the bishops’ document, “How to live our faith in present-day Mozambique.” He understood the Marxist regime that was being established and he encouraged Christians to stand firm in their faith. He used to say, “You are the Church … if you think the Church is Father Mauro – once Father Mauro is banished you will say the Church disappeared with him. No. This is not the case. The Church lives on in you, even if there is no priest left.” He was devoted to promoting the welfare of young people in Massinga and built a high school – as well as schools in other villages.
He was gregarious, generous and filled with compassion for the poor. He did all he could for the many needy people who turned to him. He brought a mutilated boy to Italy so the boy could study and build a life for himself.
On a visit to the Mangonha mission during the war soldiers attempted to intimidate him by shooting and claiming it was a RENAMO attack. Father Mauro did not believe them; he said they were the ones who didn’t want him to pass – he pushed down on his accelerator and fearlessly forged ahead to Mangonha.
After his expulsion from Mozambique Massinga was ever in his heart. He never forgot us, our sufferings and the hunger we endured during the war – he sent us food and clothing parcels.
When we heard of his death we were all very sad. Everyone prayed for him – Father Mauro may have died but he continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Luís Mechiço, Luís Paunde, Octávio Rafael