Fr. Rossi was born the son of Francesco Rossi and Vittoria Nuccetelli on November 8, 1912 at Scurcola Marsicana (L’Aquila). He completed secondary school and entered the Institute in 1933. In 1935 he consecrated himself to God through religious profession and on June 20, 1939 he was ordained to the priesthood.

That same year he was sent to Kenya, to the mission at Egoji. He had only just put his hand to the plough when war broke out and he was interned in a concentration camp – first at Kabete (Nairobi) and later at Koffiefontein (South Africa) and then back to Kabete.

He was finally freed in 1944 and began his work in earnest. Years of hard work followed; the missions had been abandoned for years, but they were brought back to life and to an unprecedented level of development. As a young missionary, Fr. Riccardo was capable and decisive. He was frequently called to mission stations to help older colleagues, or replace sick or vacationing confrères. Between 1944 and 1954 he worked in Icagaki, Gaincanjiro, Fort-Hall, Tuso and Karema. 

His was an enthusiastic character endowed with tireless energy. He dedicated himself to pastoral work in the spirit of a fisherman who casts his nets as far as possible to gather in as many fish as he can. He brought new life and fervor to already existing Christian communities and established new school-chapels everywhere. These schools had thousands of students in whom and in whose families and communities he planted the seeds of the Gospel. He developed handicraft and farming methods and created agricultural and small industry cooperatives. He found financing for students – some of whom studied abroad – in an effort to create leaders for society and the Church. During the Mau-Mau uprising he was often in great danger – but his charity reached out to all sides.

His letters to superiors in Italy were full of statistics – the best reflection of reality. At the same time his visions for the future revealed a creative imagination, the ability to think and make long-term plans. These letters are evidence of his devotion to work and his trust in the Lord.

In 1946 he wrote to Fr. Sandrone, the Vice-superior General from Gaicanjiro. “ … there is so much work, it is always on the increase, and there are so few workers, ‘Rogate ergo Dominum messis ut mittat operarios’ is our constant prayer. Here at Gaicanjiro we are only two priests and a brother: Vincenzo Quaglia. But there is enough work for five priests, two brothers and seven sisters. There are 600 students in the central school and another 700 in outstations schools: 1300 altogether … we lack money, personnel, support. Fortunately we do not lack the Lord.”

The following year in a letter to Fr. Barlassina, the Superior General, he gives an insight into the spirit with which he shared missionary life with his confrères: “The companionship was good – no great! We were working all the time and got along splendidly. One supplied what the other lacked.” He made no attempt to downplay difficulties but described his work with confidence: “I am the superintendent of schools, both here at the central school and at the ’out-schools’. There are enough problems to make one scratch one’s head! We have twenty-five teachers on the staff and keeping them in line is no easy job. We have 1200 students and we hope to recruit even more. But how very much it all costs, Father, to keep our schools in working order. Disputes over teachers’ pay, insistence on admission fees, new buildings or old ones to be remodeled, a battle against poor hygiene, disorder, dirty clothes, tardiness – in short I’m sure you know and understand what I’m talking about. But our schools are in good shape; the teaching is good and at a high level. We are respected by all the other neighboring schools of other denominations.“

For Fr. Riccardo the future of the mission was clear: “A mission that has a good school is respected, wanted, helped and filled. In Kenya there is at present a ‘race for schools.’ He who hesitates is lost.” In spite of difficulties – among which a large number of elderly and sick fathers, he carried on with patience. What counted for Fr. Riccardo was the missionary spirit: “… dear Father, we are still good and worthy Consolata missionaries. We still have that spirit, and have it in abundance; charity and zeal are not lacking. I feel obliged to say that the charity and zeal that I saw in the past, and that I see even more today here in the missions, is like nothing I ever saw in Italy. I may be wrong, but that’s the way I see things.” 

In 1954 Fr. Rossi began his ministry as a pastor. He worked first at Ngandu for ten years where he was known as “muthuri” (elder) of the Kikuyu tribe. Later he opened the mission of Karatina (1964-1965) where he established schools and chapels throughout the parish. He was then sent to Kerugoya (1965-1969) where he built five stone churches in the most important centers and founded the Association of Parents who do praiseworthy work supervising and developing the schools. From 1970 to 1978 he was the pastor at Sagana. During all these years he was Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of Kerenyaga, a member of the Schools Committee and on the Commission for Development in the district. From 1978 to 1980 he lived in Nyeri and worked as the pastor at Mathari.

The years went by and age caught up with him; his legs began to give way. Fr. Riccardo returned to being an assistant to pastors who were younger than he was. From 1980 to 1999 he was assistant pastor at Karima, Othaya Tetu and Wamagana.

On October 10, 1999, Fr. Rossi was forced to return to Italy and begin his long stay at Alpignano; although confined to a wheelchair he took part in community meetings and community Masses. On Thursday, December 7, 2000 he returned to the House of the Father.

On Saturday, December 9, the community celebrated a Mass of farewell. Fr. Emanuele Maggioni, the Vice-superior presided at the funeral and Fr. Antonio Giannelli spoke about Fr. Riccardo’s work in the missions and its outreach to so many basic communities. Fr. Gabriele Soldati said, “He had dedicated his parish to Mary Immaculate, and Mary Immaculate has called him home on the vigil of her feast.”

Confrères from neighboring communities attended the Mass. Fr. Riccardo’s body was taken to Scurcola Marsicana where it was buried.

Fr. Giuseppe Villa

and the editors of Da Casa Madre

TESTIMONIES

He had the “charism” of the apostolate

I came to know Fr. Riccardo Rossi in 1958 when I came to launch Catholic Action in the diocese of Nyeri. Msgr. Carlo Cavallera of blessed memory had gathered all the missionaries together for a presentation of Catholic Action as a means to channel the efforts of the laity whose Christianity had been put to the test during the Mau-Mau persecution. A priest I didn’t know was the one who spoke most frequently during the conferences. I asked Fr. Giovanni Casolati what his name was. He answer with that wry tone he often used, “He’s Fr. Riccardo Rossi. The Africans call him ‘the mute one’ because he’s always talking.”

I quickly realized that he had the gift of gab; he knew and used the local language with ease and he managed to inject into it some of his native warmth … his advocacy of an advanced and far-reaching apostolate became his “charism.” When it came to launching an Africanized (today we would say inculturated) Catholic Action, he did it and did it very well indeed. 

He told me that he had always liked Catholic Action in Italy and thought it would work very well in Nyeri. He was one of the first to turn this into a reality. He was always the best one to explain the concept of Catholic Action to teachers. I well remember the debates that took place on all levels in an effort to help people “understand.” We started our first groups in his difficult parish at Ngandu and he introduced us to John, his catechist. John was a convert and a former Mau-Mau with all the talents of a leader and the eloquence of a neophyte. He offered John’s assistance in our visits to outlying missions. Later it was Fr. Riccardo who gave us our first diocesan president of the movement, Mr. Patrick, one his Head Masters and a leader of the district. 

Fr. Riccardo stayed at Blessed Giuseppe Allamano House for a little more than two years. Being confined to a wheelchair was very difficult for someone with his personality. But in spite of that confinement he took part in community Masses, he came down to meals, he attended gatherings and conferences, he watched television, he read and he prayed – he certainly was not idle, all the same he gave the impression of a lion inside a cage. 

But this was the will of God and this seemed to be enough for him. He died suddenly, and went to meet the Lord Jesus on the vigil of the Immaculate Conception, to which he was so devoted. Fr. Emanuele Maggione presided at his funeral Mass and Fr. Antonio Giannelli who had worked so long with Fr. Riccardo preached the homily. With moving and heartfelt words he gave witness to Fr. Riccardo’s apostolic zeal. He was a missionary known to everyone in Nyeri; he founded communities in which he baptized thousands and thousands of children.

His charitable work during the fratricidal Mau-Mau struggle was tireless and without concern for his personal safety. Fr. Antonio spoke about the missions he had founded, the primary and secondary schools he had established and the cooperatives he initiated. He did much to foster religious vocations and led so many to the priesthood – the local bishop was one of his protegés. And there was still more. He was awarded a Papal Honor just at the moment that his legs gave way and ceased to obey him. He was forced to return home. He went to receive his Honor, like a good soldier of Christ. He now rests with other members of his family in his hometown cemetery at Scurcola Marsicana. Yes, Fr. Richard, rest in the peace of the Lord!

Fr. Giuseppe Mina

A splendid example of missionary zeal

Fr. Riccardo Rossi was the pastor at Karatina during the years of the African struggle for independence. He devoted all his efforts to winning the area that had been entrusted to him: the District of Mathera. The Protestants who had got there before us and were settled in their mission fortress at Tumutumu believed that influence in the territory was their exclusive prerogative. Only a few years previously there had been a good deal of opposition to the founding of the Ngandu mission. Fr. Giacomino Camisassa, the first priest saw his newly built school burnt to the ground. 

To block aid to guerrillas in the jungle the local villages had been sealed off – almost becoming concentration camps. Msgr. Cavallera asked the District Authorities for permission to enter all the local villages. This permission opened doors to places that had previously been closed to us by the network of Protestant schools opposed to our expansion. 

Within a few years Fr. Rossi had established the catechumenate in all the villages and had baptized thousands of converts. The results of his efforts were later apparent when the district was divided into six parishes that boasted flourishing Christian communities.

During the seventies he was one of the early pastors at Sagana. There too he found land that needed tilling. In his eight years there he built chapels for catechumens at strategic points with extraordinary results. Sagana, today, has twenty stone churches and there are plans to divide the mission into two parishes.

He was an open and cheerful person; he brought a light note to any company with jokes, anecdotes, predictions, gossip – he was known as “Radio Karatina.” His conversations were always of a pastoral nature. His comments on the Saint or liturgy of the day were always flavored with humor.

At the end he was assistant pastor in the mission at Wamagama. He celebrated Mass daily with the basic communities, and urged them on to further efforts, cooperation and apostolic endeavor. When the mission was handed over to the diocesan clergy, Fr. Rossi went to Sagana – but remained only a few months. After celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of his ordination he collapsed. His legs would no longer support him and he was forced to return to Italy. 

Fr. Riccardo Rossi left us a splendid example of missionary zeal, sacrifice and a long life spent totally and uninterruptedly for the cause of the Gospel.

Fr. Luigi Mongiano

Fraternal and charitable

Although I never had occasion to do pastoral work with Fr. Riccardo, I have beautiful memories of this missionary confrère who spent sixty years working in Kenya.

Every time I went to visit him he welcomed me fraternally and made me feel at home. He found meeting and offering hospitality to his confrères a genuine pleasure. Fr. Riccardo was always very well informed about what was going on in the missions and about the personnel of the Region.

He recounted with gusto the successes he had had opening school-chapels in areas completely dominated by Protestants and other denominations. His good humor and endless anecdotes were known to everyone and he was ironically known as “the mute one” – a sobriquet that did not displease him at all.

He gave his undivided attention to his pastoral work and to his parishioners and worked with his catechists in all his activities, especially in preparing catechumens for baptism and Christian life - he considered these catechists his “right arm.”

After 59 years in the mission Fr. Riccardo lost count of how many baptisms he had performed, but he would affirm without exaggeration that they numbered in the thousands. “Cross the sea, save a soul and then die!” This was a slogan among old-time missionaries; Fr. Riccardo was brought up in this tradition. He went even further and continued to perform baptisms as long as his physical strength held out. 

Another of his characteristic trait was his love for the poor. He was always ready to give concrete assistance to whoever knocked at his door. While he was pastor at Sagana he established St. Mary’s Village, a shelter for elderly, abandoned women; in his final years at Wamagama his devotion to the poor and disabled increased exponentially: he was instrumental in establishing a Special School for spastic children and those who had suffered from polio.

Fr. Antonio Citterio

He was an evangelist in the full sense of the word

Those who knew Fr. Riccardo Rossi will not hesitate to affirm that he was one of the most active and dynamic missionaries in Kenya. His work of evangelization produced almost unbelievable results. He baptized thousands of children and adults; he built several churches and a large number of chapels; he witnessed the foundation, development and eventual dissolution of several missions; he paid special attention to catechesis, kept it up to date, and made sure it made sense to the mentality of his faithful.

His work was not confined to the pure and simple proclamation of the Gospel. He was devoted to the social welfare of the people among whom he worked and did all he could to improve their tools and means of production. He helped his faithful adopt up-to-date methods of working the land for the production of coffee and tea and was instrumental in setting up agricultural and small industry cooperatives.

He was especially interested in the welfare of young people and was responsible for opening several elementary and secondary schools. He financed studies both at home and abroad for promising youngsters who would one day be leaders in the Church and in society at large.

His heart was always open to the poor. The extent of his charity is known only in heaven! During the struggle for independence in Kenya he assumed responsibility for feeding thousands of desperate people and cared for the sick and wounded on both sides of the conflict.

Anyone who has lived with him can testify to the many people he helped; as he walked along the street he was continually accosted and thanked for something he had done. He was surrounded by a “litany” of thanks and was one of the most loved and respected missionaries in Kenya.

Fr. Riccardo is the model of an authentic missionary for all of us; he was concerned with the spiritual, material and intellectual well-being of his people; he was devoted to welfare of his flock, the progress of the Church and the dignity of every human person.

Fr. Antonio Bellagamba