San Fele (PZ), 9 October 2020. Justin De Jacobis is remembered, in the small Lucanian town where he came into the world 220 years ago, as a “man of dialogue and weaver of fraternity.” The initiative intended to inaugurate the missionary month of October in Basilicata, fittingly indicating, for example, this extraordinary Vincentian missionary, son and disciple of Saint Vincent de Paul. Born in San Fele on 9 October 1800, he left for Ethiopia in May 1839 with the responsibility of Apostolic Prefect. He became Bishop and Apostolic Vicar in 1847. For the indigenous peoples, he will be Abuna Jacob Maryam (Father Jacob of the Virgin Mary). Saint Paul VI, in the canonization homily (26 October 1975), called him, “Father of the Church of Ethiopia.” De Jacobis understood clearly and ahead of his time (200 years before the Second Vatican Council!) the importance of constructive dialogue with native Coptic Christians, but also with all the confessional and religious realities present at the time in the very vast territory of the Ethiopian plateau.
The event began at 4:30 pm with the welcome of the participants in Piazza Nocicchio, about 100 meters from the birthplace of our Saint. Promoted at the regional level, among those present were priests and representatives of the other dioceses of Basilicata. On the occasion, Abba Keflemariam Asghedom and Abba Yohannes Keflemariam were presented to the large assembly. They are two of the three Eritrean priests of the new community established in Melfi at the service of the diocese. They will continue the decades-long presence of the Italian Vincentians destined by Superiors for another location.
“Church of God, people gathered in him, you are witness to his wonders.” On the notes of the song proposed by the diocesan polyphonic choir, at 5:00 pm the prayer and memory event was introduced with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by theMetropolitan and Archbishop of Potenza, Salvatore Ligorio. In his homily, he focused on some salient points from the life and work of De Jacobis. He proposed him as: 1. a believer who responded in an exemplary manner to the common vocation of all the baptized to holiness, a man immersed in prayer, lover of the Eucharist, very devoted to the Madonna; 2. a passionate educator who guided the establishment of the first Ethiopian Catholic Seminary for the necessary formation of qualified formators and pastors and an indispensable resource for leading the Ethiopian peoples on the roads of the Gospel; 3. tenacious and courageous, who never became discouraged or held back in the face of challenges, fierce persecutions, and other innumerable difficulties encountered along the way in his work as a heroic witness and evangelizer in the name of Jesus Christ.
At 6:00 pm, a round table with several participants proposed a commemoration of the holy Apostle of Ethiopia. The coordinator was Father Michele Del Cogliano, young parish priest of the town. After the greetings of the president of the regional council, Dr. Carmine Cicala, and the mayor, Donato Sperduto, there were other talks by Archbishop Ligorio and then by Father Franco Viola, Secretary of the Regional Commission for Evangelization and Cooperation among the Churches. There were two important advances: the commitment of the Bishops and regional political executives to promote Saint Justin De Jacobis as co-patron of Basilicata and patron saint of Lucanians who emigrated abroad. The brief conclusions were entrusted to the diocesan Bishop Ciro Fanelli. Then the inauguration of the exhibition, “The cry of the earth,” on the themes of the Encyclical, Laudato si’, by Pope Francis, took place. It was set up in the rooms of the birthplace of Saint Justin. The exhibition, sponsored by the Episcopal Conference of Basilicata, will be at the disposal of the region’s Diocesan Missionary Centers. Finally, with the use of extensive passages from his writings, a Reading on the life of the Saint, “Lucan by birth and Abyssinian by election and choice,” was held. With the awareness of having given honor to the Saint with dignity in memory of his birthday, the evening ended with a play of lights and the bright colors of fireworks.
Biagio Falco c.m.
