Martyr in Congo

Chapter 1. A great and noble Vocation

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Fr. John Didonè - Great and noble vocation

We ought to be firmly convinced that the vocation we received could not have been greater or more exalted. It calls us to be close to Christ, the source and purpose of our faith, and to the Apostles, whom we regard as preeminent teachers and who unconditionally left all to follow Christ completely. Indeed, the Lord could not have been more generous with us! The apostolic life coupled with religious vows constitutes that which is regarded as more perfect, according to gospel standards. By profession we die to earthly things in order to live a life hidden with Christ in God.”

This excerpt from the Testament Letter of Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931), Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries, aptly sums up the nature of the missionary vocation. John Didonè, one of Conforti’s most illustrious sons, gave his life to this missionary ideal.  

He was assiduous and very attentive at catechism lessons; when he came back home he used to repeat exactly what he had heard and he willingly talked about the Gospel and the Bible.
On Fr. John Didone'

John Didonè was born on March 18, 1930 in Cusinati di Rosa’ (Vicenza – Northern Italy), the fourth of eleven children. He was educated in the profoundly Christian values so typical of the families of those times in his home region, an area of Italy that has given thousands of its children to the priesthood and religious life. Four of John’s sisters became joined religious life and two of his brothers became religious priests.

He spent his childhood in the same way as other children of his age, between school in the morning and play in the afternoon, after completing his homework. Life at home was simple and frugal, though the family never lacked anything. 

The Didone' family: Fr. John is third from the left in the front row, between his father and mother. Also pictured are Don Severino, Sr. Amabile, Fr. Camillo, Sr. Annamaria, Sr. Tecla, Sr. Palma, Domenico and Celestina, Bertilla, and Albino

Praying as One Family

The family environment gave great importance to parents’ authority and affection among siblings. The parents of John did not need to raise their voices to gain their children’s respect and obedience; they exercised influence upon them especially through their own example, inculcating in their sons and daughters the importance of religious and family duties. They prayed fervently together as a family, even when the hectic work in the fields left them with little time.

On Sundays, they went to Mass at different times. The mother, Maria, always went to the first Mass so that she could attend to her husband and children when they got up. During the rest of the week, the children attended school while their father worked in the fields. As the children grew up, and became increasingly able to handle tools, they would occasionally be called to help in the family chores.

Life in a large family called on everyone to shoulder their share of responsibility. It should not be forgotten that in those times people did not have the sophisticated time-saving machinery (combine harvester, automatic mower, seeder) that make agricultural work today so much easier. Everything had to be done by sheer physical effort, and many times John’s father would leave for work in the morning while his children were getting up and, on his return home in the evening they were already asleep. This was a household that took seriously the motto of Saint Benedict “ora et labora” (pray and work), and it was the foundation of the family’s peace and serenity.

John’s parents were people of solid common sense. They were devout Christians though they had no formal theological studies to boast about. They encouraged the catechetical instruction of their children and looked upon religious practice as a useful and necessary ingredient of a successful life.

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