Martyr in Brazil

Chapter 3. Threats and Pardons

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Latin America: Continent of hope for Christianity

Around this time, a curious episode took place that became famous throughout the region. One day, Father Albert ran out of the wood needed for the building of the school and decided to look for a solution to the problem. He met a group of men who asked him to give them work to do since they were unemployed. He told them that he needed someone to cut wood for him, and they willingly agreed to do the job, but they had no saw. Father Albert bought a large saw and told them he would return a few days later to collect the wood. He found out, however, that they had sold the saw and divided the money among themselves.

Bishop Gazza described his reaction: “Father Albert got really angry; anyone listening to him would have thought that a real disaster had occurred; he wanted to beat someone so badly. His character was like that: he was a good, quiet and humble man, but woe betide anyone who stepped out of line and committed an injustice! He could not stand such behavior. However, we knew him only too well, and we knew that things would soon blow over”.

I was particularly impressed by the love of the children for my brother Albert: wherever he went, the children followed, crowding around him. Even during the celebration of Mass they gathered around him, close to the altar. I was struck by his resistance in the face of so much work, his life of hardship. How he must have suffered, considering that he also had a stomach ulcer!
Fr. Albert Pierobon

A few days later, Father Albert had a chance meeting with one of the thieves. He was about to jump on him when the man told him that his father had just died and that they had no money for his burial. Father Albert took pity on him, offered his condolences and gave him the money he had in his pocket. Later, however, he met the “dead” man, alive and in good health, blissfully unaware that he had been declared dead by his own son.

Once again, Father Pierobon was really angry but the tricksters were soon forgiven and the saw bought back again at twice the original price. The story traveled around the region and, though it had a funny side to it, the people always told it in a respectful way in deference to Father Albert and his kindness. In 1968, he had to return to Italy for health reasons; he needed a period of rest far from the mission. His brother recalled how he arrived home with not even a suitcase or personal belongings: he had given everything to the poor and arrived only in the clothes in which he was dressed. This visit home was the last time he would see his father. Back in Brazil, he received news of his father’s death; in a letter he told his family that, while he mourned the loss, he was nevertheless happy at the thought that his father was in heaven.

Pierobon family gathering: in the center, Fr. Alberto, between his mom and dad, in November 1964

A visit from his brother and sister

He was forced to return to Italy once again in 1973. During the night he had fallen from the hammock and injured his back. He underwent surgery in Italy, but was soon back in Brazil again. The following summer, his brother Giorgio and his sister Sandra visited him in the mission.

Giorgio Pierobon recalled the experience: “I will never forget our stay in Brazil. I was particularly impressed by the love of the children for my brother Albert: wherever he went, the children followed, crowding around him. Even during the celebration of Mass they gathered around him, close to the altar. I was struck by his resistance in the face of so much work, his life of hardship. How he must have suffered, considering that he also had a stomach ulcer! My brother’s faith was unshakeable: in many years of mission work, he never complained nor did he ever experience a moment of crisis. His altruism was integral, his will power absolute. He always spoke enthusiastically about the conversion of his indios; he was grateful to his poor people who humbly asked for help, ever generous in spite of their misery.  Of course, as he himself told me in a letter, his initial adaptation was tough.”

After Giorgio returned to Italy, Father Albert was sent to the south, where the climate was better, because he was not very well. His sister Sandra remained in Acará where she tragically died in a road accident on October 22, 1973.

The incident was reported in the magazine “Famiglia Cristiana": “Alessandra Pierobon, a recently widowed 49 year-old mathematics teacher, was traveling by bus from Acará to Belén, in Brazil; the driver lost control of the vehicle on a bend and it ended up in the river Capim. Alessandra drowned with seven other passengers. She was on her way back to Italy to resume her work in school after a period of voluntary work in the missions during the summer holidays”.

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