Fr. John Querzani, s.x.

Fr. Querzani receives Mission Award

Fr. John Querzani - from Cuore Amico

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Fr. John Querzani with a young patient in the Dem. Rep. of Congo

On Oct. 18 2006, the eve of the World Mission Sunday, the prestigious missionary award “Cuore Amico” (Friendly Heart) was presented to Xaverian Fr. John Querzani, sr. Domitilla Nosella, religious sister working in Ivory Coast, and Dr. Gianfranco Morino, a surgeant who works in Kenya.

In his 36 years of missionary life in the Dem. Republic of Congo, Fr. John Querzani combined his intense priestly ministry with a continual human effort, in particular in the health field and social efforts favoring the most disadvantaged. Fr. Querzani served in clinics and hospitals on behalf of TB patients and lepers for over 20 years. He witness the great drama of Rwandan refugees in 1994, and responded to the needs of war affected people. 

The motivations for this award come from the words of Bishop of Faenza, Msgr. C. Stagni: “Besides being a tangible sign of attention for this truly generous missionary, Cuore Amico provides a great sensitivity towards a disadvantaged people, the Congolese, who this world often forgets.” 

Fr. Rino Benzoni, superior general of the Xaverian Missionaries, describes the ministry of Fr. Querzani in the following words: “He is truly a man with a great heart, who, even in the midst of adversities and sufferings, cannot see but the face of his brothers and sisters, forgetting everything else.” 

The activities of the association in these last 10 years of war is tremendous: free health assistance; nursing assistance to malnourished children; opening of the elementary school; building of gathering spaces and multi-purpose rooms, of playgrounds, and of the church in Buholo. These numbers do not describe everything, but if these numbers could talk, they would mention the people who have been touched by so much generosity

The mayor of Brisighella, Cesare Sangiorgi, the Italian hometown where Fr. Querzani was born, remarks that “he is a precious treasure, and we are all proud for this award… The story of our town is very interesting, suggestive and varied… We had had many bishops and eight cardinals, and it is with great admiration and respect that we honor Father Querzani on his award.”

Children’s Lunches

Fr. Rino recalls how Fr. Querzani’s main activity “revolves around the people of Bukavu, who have been hit by a 10-year old civil war. An incredible number of refugees came to this major city of Southern Congo, thus having a great effect on the economical stability of the region. Though most of the families had difficulties, they still had room to welcome their friends and relatives. The level of malnutrition is quite high, especially among the children. It is in this setting that Fr. Querzani, through the help of many friends, organized soup kitchens for the children, nourishing them in spirit and in body, overcoming death for many of these children.”

There are about a thousand children a day. Fr. Querzani is also working for the betterment of the region of Kadutu through health, educational and sanitary projects.

His Congolese Life

Fr. John spent 36 years of missionary life. Ordained priest in 1968, he specialized in tropical medicine at Anversa, and then arrived at Kinshasa in 1970. Fr. John started his service at Kitutu in 1971, helping in the leprosy clinic of Kagelagela. In 1976, he moves to Malambula and then in Kampene. He is named pastor of the vast mission of Shabunda in 1979, a parish situated in the Northern Congo amidst the large forest of Urega. He returns to clinical work in the hospital of Kampene in 1983, and in 1986 he serves in the parishes of Bukavu for about two years. 

Fr. Querzani moved to Baraka, close to the lake Tanganica, where he served for two years. From 1990 to 1994 he is at Goma where he directly experiences the mass exodus of Rwandan refugees. Since 1997, he is Bukavu.

As a comment to this mission commitment, let’s read the report from the volunteer association “Your hands for Peace” (La Tua Mano per la Pace), which for all these years has helped Fr. John. “The activities of the association in these last 10 years of war is tremendous: free health assistance to thousands of poor children (some 18,000); nursing assistance to malnourished children (some 1,000); opening of the elementary school of Matendo (with 650 students) and the evening classes n the “Elimu ka wote” school which provides education for all (with 150 students); building of gathering spaces and multi-purpose rooms, of playgrounds in Kadutu, and of the church in Buholo (which seats about 2,000 parishioners). These numbers do not describe everything, but if these numbers could talk, they would mention the people who have been touched by so much generosity. These suffering people have been given new hope for better tomorrows.”

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