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From Xaverian NewsOct. 6, 2009
“To the women of this Asian nation he gave work, but also
conscientiousness of their dignity”: this is how the Xaverian missionaries
remember Father John Abbiati, a Xaverian Missionary who died in Bangladesh after
30 years of service for the poor, especially through the fair and equal trade.
“Fr. John died a few hours after a head on collision with a truck. He was
travelling in his car between Dhaka and Khulna, the diocese where he was
transferred from Italy in 1975”, said Fr. Mimmo Pietanza, regional superior of
the Xaverians in Bangladesh.
“Fr. Abbiati worked with women of Bangladesh. Many years ago, after the price of
Asian jute dropped, he decided to organize the export of handcrafts to Italy and
Europe under “equal and fair” conditions. He would gather handcrafted products
all over the country, managing to send even up to 24 containers a year”,
remembered Fr. Pietanza.
BASE (a network of local production and market of artisans from areas of
Bangladesh) was born, because it was almost impossible for NGOs and other
organizations to reach these developing areas; BASE is a network which involves
today over 5,000 artisan women.
Thanks to his commitment on behalf of the dignity of workers of Bangladesh, Fr.
John was known and loved by many shops around the world who use Fair Trade.
Fr. Abbiati was born in Chiuro, in the Italian Sondrio province, in 1948. He
entered the Xaverians at Nizza Monferrato on Oct. 2 1965, and professed his vows
on Oct. 3 1966. He was ordained priest at Parma on Sept. 30 1973. At the end of
his theology studies, he was assigned to Bangladesh where he served all of his
missionary life since 1975.
Many more were the activities of Fr. Abbiati in his long years in Bangladesh:
pastoral work at Shimulia, Bhabarpara, St. Mary in Khulna, Regional Counselor
and Treasurer, in charge of Justice and Peace, and coordinator of local Groups
of Artisans which involves thousands of women.
In recent times, Fr. Abbiati had started the “Street Children House” for
children of the streets of Khulna, where he resided. His death came in the midst
of all these activities, leaving behind a shining example of a missionary life
spent on Christ’s love for the weakest and neediest of Bangladesh.
The funeral was celebrated in Khulna, Bangladesh on Oct. 6, 2009, the land that
hosted him for so long. May the Lord welcome him into His Kingdom.
