Martyr in Congo

Chapter 2. Enthused about his faith in Christ

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In his early years of ministry, Fr. John Didonè shared his missionary vocation with a young man

John had a zest for life and was particularly enthusiastic about his faith in Christ. His letters to his family bear eloquent witness to his passionate conviction with regard to his vocation.

His eldest sister thus described her brother: “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. He always had a copy of the New Testament with him and he read it frequently. When he was 11 years old he consecrated himself to the Virgin Mary, a devotion that was to increase throughout his entire life”.

His interest in the missionary vocation was also visible at an early age. In the summer of 1941, during the Second World War, a somewhat embarrassed John confided in his sister how strongly he felt about the missionary cause, how noble it must be to offer one’s life for the salvation of people in distant lands, and how important it was to offer prayers and sacrifices for the missions. Not long after this conversation, John told his parents he wished to become a missionary priest. 

Sorry, but I feel called to Missionary Life!

John’s father had no objections to his son becoming a priest, provided he joined the diocesan clergy. He was, however, apprehensive at the thought of his son becoming a missionary. Consequently, John joined the diocesan seminary in Padua. He had to wait until he was 20 years old before his father gave his consent to the missionary vocation of his son, though even then at great personal cost.

I cannot describe how I feel when I approach the altar. Pray for me, that I never get used to being a priest or celebrating Mass. I am more convinced than ever that I owe all I am to the infinite mercy and kindness of God, and to the Virgin Mary: may all honor and glory be theirs.
Fr. John Didone

This personal struggle, which finally ended in his father’s blessing, seems to have had a great impact on John’s whole life; it explains his temperament which was both docile and resolute: he was a courageous man who aspired to high ideals.

After a year of intense preparation, John Didonè made his religious profession on October 12, 1951 in the Xaverian community. He was ordained deacon by the Xaverian bishop Dante Battaglierin on September 20, 1958 and, almost two months later, he was ordained priest on 9 November. Some days later he wrote to his sister: “I cannot describe how I feel when I approach the altar. Pray for me, that I never get used to being a priest or celebrating Mass. I am more convinced than ever that I owe all I am to the infinite mercy and kindness of God, and to the Virgin Mary: may all honor and glory be theirs”. 

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