Missionary Priest In Brunswick

When I was newly ordained, a priest gave me books and videos by an Italian missionary priest who had spent most of his life in Mexico. Fresh from the seminary where I had to read heavy philosophy and theology books for seven years, I must confess that I found Father Flaviano Amatulli’s books too simple. I didn’t pay too much attention to them.

After being at a parish for a few months, I was teaching a sacrament preparation course for Catholic adults who had not been confirmed. While in the middle of a beautiful, lofty talk on the origins of the Bible, a young man raised his hand and asked, “Father, you keep talking about the Old Testament and the New Testament, what is the difference between the two?” At that point I realized the beauty of Father Amatulli’s books. They did not assume any previous knowledge of the faith.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Father Amatulli at the parish in Brunswick and tell him this story. I thanked him for his work and the valuable resource he has been to me as a young priest, especially when ministering to the Spanish-speaking population of our diocese. I was unable to remain for the whole weekend retreat he was giving, but greatly enjoyed listening to him for a few hours and having lunch with him.

Father Amatulli encouraged those attending the retreat to live their faith with conviction. “A faith for tradition’s sake is no good. We need a faith with conviction. Every Catholic must know his faith and let it be known by others. Every Catholic must know the Scriptures.” He recalled Saint John Paul II’s invitation to “put out into the deep” and jokingly stated that if one does not know how to swim, one will simply drown in the deep waters. First, one must learn how to swim. This means that every Catholic must first know his or her faith well, and then go out into the deep to share it.

Amatulli spoke of a longing for a Church where every Catholic’s pastoral needs are met in a more personal and intimate manner. A Church where every priest knows his flock and is truly able to be pastor and father to his people. He also spoke of the essential role of permanent deacons and the laity in the fulfillment of the Church’s mission.

Born in Bari, Italy in 1938, Father Amatulli arrived to Mexico soon after his ordination in 1965 to work as a missionary among indigenous peoples in Oaxaca. Alarmed by the high number of people abandoning the Catholic faith, he founded in 1978 the lay movement “Apostoles de la Palabra” to educate the laity in the faith, in particular those living in the poorest and most abandoned sectors of society. His work and dedication has benefited thousands as he travels throughout Latin America and the United States giving conferences, teaching and encouraging Catholics to know and to practice their faith.

Missionary Priest in Brunswick