Martyr in Bangladesh

Chapter 4. Severe flooding in East Pakistan

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Fr. Mario in a last conversation with his mother, Albina, before his departure for East Pakistan

His mother died on July 25, 1954 and Mario was unable to go back home. His brother Giuseppe consoled him by describing his mother’s last moments and how she had died a holy death.

He celebrated Mass for her and told his Bengalese Christians, “I owe my presence here among you to my mother. In some way, she also considered you as her family”. In God we all form one large family. He later wrote to his brother Tullio: “The memory of our good mother will help us. Her patience and understanding are a lasting example to us all. Let us strive to give our young people the example of a living faith inspired by the Gospel”.

In that year, 1954, East Pakistan suffered severe flooding that lasted almost two months. Father Mario, who was in the midst of them, later described the apocalypse: “The swollen waters of the river Gange have wrought havoc here, as in so many other parts of East Pakistan. Water has invaded the houses, eroding their foundations and causing them to collapse at the first wind. The people are engaged in a desperate struggle against the water and hunger. The water has also invaded my small church. Today is the feast of the Assumption and the sun is shining. I celebrated Holy Mass on the veranda of my room with a congregation of Christians in their small boats. About forty of them made their confession and received communion during Mass. We prayed fervently. Only the Lord can save us. My Christians have a strong faith and their calm and serenity are admirable. The children spread joy all around with their innocent and merry frolicking in the water; they do not yet understand the magnitude of what has happened, and the adults keep their anguish to themselves”.

The water has also invaded my small church. Today is the feast of the Assumption and the sun is shining. I celebrated Holy Mass on the veranda of my room with a congregation of Christians in their small boats. About forty of them made their confession and received communion during Mass. We prayed fervently. Only the Lord can save us. My Christians have a strong faith and their calm and serenity are admirable.
Fr. Mario Veronesi

Father Aldo Guarniero described Father Mario’s struggle: “East Pakistan is going through one of the most tragic moments in its history. Rivers swollen by incessant rainfall have flooded six provinces. All the rice crops have been ruined and thousands of houses (bamboo huts) have been swept away by the waters. The three districts of our mission have been spared so far: only two villages with about 300 Catholics have been destroyed by the flood. Father Veronesi rushed down there and has not yet returned: I don’t know what he will be able to do, but I expect to see him come back with an army of children; he had already brought several dozens when things were normal, you can imagine what he will do now! And he is always broke, I don’t know how he manages to feed so many hungry mouths. If we are to keep up with his typical generosity, we shall need much more than the 500 rupies the mission gives him each month. He went down there with 600 pounds of rice and, before he left, I asked him how many children he thought he would be bringing back this time. He told me it would all depend on what his heart told him to do. I could just imagine what that meant and I reminded him that we must not let our head be governed by our heart. People were dying of hunger everywhere”.

"He went straight to the most affected areas and understood what he had to do in order to bring the people some relief"

The fight against hunger

When the level of the waters fell, desolation and hunger remained. Help was sent from Italy and from all over the world. Father Mario prayed and worked without ceasing. In the words of Father Garello: “He did not sit around theorizing. He went straight to the most affected areas and understood immediately what he had to do in order to bring the people some relief”. He was also entrusted with the building of the first cathedral of Khulna which would later become a diocese. Spurred on by Father Mario, the Christians helped in the building project. A wooden statue of Saint Joseph, the patron of the cathedral, arrived from Rovereto and was placed behind the altar. The church soon became a refuge for those who had been left homeless by the floods. Some people were scandalized by this, but Father Mario was happy.

In 1956, he took part as an elected delegate in the sixth General Chapter of the Xaverians. In December, much to his disappointment, he became religious superior, but he accepted it as God’s will. On November 1, 1956, he wrote to the Superior General, “I would have preferred to go back to my pastoral ministry, but the Lord has other plans for me. I will help the fathers as much as I can, but it is not the same thing as working with ordinary Christians. I have been granted the grace of returning, but with a heavy cross on my shoulders”.

Father Mario Veronesi did not have an easy character. He demanded much of himself and others. In the words of Father Garello: “Though he was widely appreciated, some confreres remember him as a hard man. His character on occasions had a harsh side to it, he cut discussions short and was frank in saying what he thought. He did not believe in compromise and thought it his duty to propose demanding ideals. He would exercise patience up until a certain point and then take it upon himself to do whatever needed to be done and say no more about it. He was very kind and patient with the Christians, but with us he was very demanding. Nevertheless, he was held in great esteem”.

Whenever the need arose, he encouraged, helped, comforted and defended his Xaverians. Once he took some of them for a period of rest to the mountains at the foot of the Himalayas. During the period he was superior, Dante Battagleirin was appointed bishop of the diocese of Khulna. Upon the expiry of his mandate, he did everything possible to ensure he would not be re-appointed. He wanted to go back to front line activity and his wish was granted.

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