Father Enrico was born the son of Giuseppe Rossi and Eva Oldani on March 27, 1935 in Ossona (Milan). In 1955 at the age of twenty he entered the Institute at the house of Rosignano Monferrato. In 1961 he consecrated himself to the Lord through religious profession and in 1966 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1968 he left for Argentina and worked there until 1976. He was the assistant pastor at Paso del Rey and Rosario and then pastor at Cordoba (1973-1976). During this time he acquired a diploma in catechetics for adolescents in 1969 and a diploma in educational psychology in 1974.
In 1976 he was assigned to the Italian Region where he was to work in mission and vocation promotion for the rest of his life. From 1976 to 1985 he worked in the communities of Bedizzole, Milan and Bevera and taught religion in state schools. He was then the superior of the house at Gambettola for two years. His zeal found an outlet in a variety of projects aimed at making the Institute known and loved and at attracting young people to the missions. On May 14, 1986, the Regional Superior, Father Giuseppe Villa wrote to him: "News of your projects (the youth raid in Turin, the pilgrimage to Rovereto, the projects in the diocese, the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Founder with the bishop and the clergy) and enthusiasm has reached us from various parts and merits our sincere congratulations. The care with which you have seen to the administration of the house, the attention and dignity of your liturgy are praiseworthy."
The people of Gambettola were aware of his good work. When obedience called him to Rome, they wrote to his superiors, "In spite of many difficulties Father Rossi succeeded in reconciling large hitherto indifferent segments of the population here in Gambettola to Christ and to the Church. He gained the respect of our people - not just as a clergyman - but as a trusted friend whom one could approach with an open heart and complete confidence."
Father Enrico remained in Rome for six years. During that time he took part in an updating course, was granted a licentiate in Education from the UPS and a doctorate in Pastoral Theology from the Lateran University. He then worked as the director of the Center of Missionary Animation at the General House.
From 1994 to 2001 he was the superior and mission promoter first at Castellarano and then at Gambettola. In October 2001, he was assigned to the community at Cavi di Lavagna as a promoter - but God had other plans. On Thursday, December 20, he went to Our Father's House.

Editors of Da Casa Madre

His Last Days

On Tuesday, December 18, Father Enrico felt sick. He felt a tingling sensation in his left arm and leg and the left side of his face was paralyzed. The doctor sent Father Enrico to the emergency room in Lavagna. An examination determined that it was the beginning of a stroke and he was sent to the hospital in Sestri Levanti. On Monday - the seventeenth - Father Enrico had begun the Christmas novena in the parish of Sant'Antonio in Sestri Levante. I took his place on Tuesday and then went to visit him in the hospital - he was calm and in good spirits.
On Wednesday, December 19, the Bishop of Chiavari blessed the new pneumatology wing at the Sestri hospital. Father Enrico was talking to his roommates and the nurses about his missionary work in Argentina and the mission promotion with which he was involved in Italy when he suddenly lost his sight and his speech became unintelligible. The doctors came immediately and the Bishop and hospital chaplain administered the Sacrament of the Sick. They gave him a Papal Blessing. Already in a coma he was transferred to Lavagna for a second TAC - but there was nothing that could be done.
On Thursday, December 20, his relatives came from Ossona along with the Regional Superior from Turin. At 5:30 PM, Father Enrico went to Our Father's House. Notes for a retreat for the Presentation Sisters were found on his desk. He often celebrated feasts with these sisters - but this time the Lord wanted him to celebrate Christmas, not in Bethlehem, not in Cavi, but in heaven.
On Thursday evening a large group of friends dressed him in the missionary tunic and chasuble he reserved for special occasions and recited the rosary around his body.
On Saturday, December 22, at 8:30 AM, his funeral took place in the parish church at Cavi. Father Gottardo Pasqualetti celebrated the Mass, assisted by don Stefano Traini, the Pastor, and many confrères, sisters and friends. His body was kept in the hospital morgue so that relatives coming from Ossona could see it before the coffin was closed.
Father Fulvio Sala accompanied the body to Ossona for a solemn funeral.

Father Igino Carnera

Dedicated to the Missions

Since I lived in the Apostolic House at Montevecchia from 1941 until 1953 and at the Bevera seminary from 1953 until 1959, I followed all the boys of our Institute from Lombardy with special interest. Among these young people was Enrico Rossi from Ossona. My contact with him was brief but sufficient to note that he was competent and disciplined. Our paths went in different directions and it was only many years later that we met again at Bevera where I had been named director of the seminary.
The religious community was no longer as large as it had once been - nor was the seminary as crowded as in the past. Times were changing; mission and vocation promotion were going in new directions. One Father was involved in the "diaspora seminary" and Father Enrico was dedicated to meeting young people in various parishes.
During the critical period of the dictatorship and the "desaparecidos" Father Enrico's own mission experience in Argentina helped him to energize the youth groups. I remember his enthusiasm and commitment in organizing formation meetings and spiritual retreats for so many young people. His relationship with the Director of the Milan Missionary Office was one of friendship and mutual respect. He was ready to organize missionary days - going even so far a the diocese of Bergamo where he had many close friends.
His style of promotion was all his own and was especially effective in establishing and maintaining long-term relationships. I learned many important ways of interesting young people in the missions from Father Enrico. On occasion he would invite the Director of the Missionary Center or his assistant to come and speak to the groups he had organized - and they were always impressed with the large number of interested and committed young people who attended. It was Father Enrico, the psychologist, who knew how to draw people and educate them - the Director would say.
Later he was assigned to Rome where he plunged into the work of mission promotion; he was involved in managing the bookshop and in setting up venues for mission promotion. After the Rome assignment he moved to the missionary house and parish of San Valentino (1994-1998). Here too he dedicated his energies to reorganizing the parish house, promoting catechetics and establishing a good relationship with the diocesan missionary center. He had the gift of being able to involve parishioners and many others in these activities and leaves a rich legacy to those who come after him.
He wore himself out at Gambettola and before he could recover at Cavi di Lavagna he met his untimely end.
Dear Father Enrico, I thank you for the friendship and confidence you showed me. We spoke often of your problems. You wanted things to be done well and precisely - and this sometimes caused you irritation - but your heart was in the right place. Thank you for the beautiful missionary witness you have given to all who knew and loved you. Our Lady Consolata, wanted you in her Institute - and now she has received you and will present you to Jesus, whose priest and missionary you have been. Since you left us at a relatively young age we ask you to continue to work in heaven - like St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

Father Giovanni B. Colusso