For the occasion we contacted Don Francesco Fruscio, the current parish priest, who wrote two words for us in memory of the “curate of the marina” Don Gino. Don Francesco wanted to speak to all of us about his memories of the past and also underline the words of his beloved Don Gino, taken from his writings.
«I thank the editorial staff for asking me to draw some biographical lines. In reality, I was initially hesitant to accept to write something because it is not easy for me to retrace so many memories of my beloved Don Gino. But I accepted as his successor in the parish of Sant’Andrea where he spent the greatest time of his priestly life.
Of his beloved Saint Andrew he said in one of his writings: “Here faith is not made up of charismatic flights (why am I not capable of it?) Or of denunciation prophetism: it is rather respect for the deliveries of the ancients, it is an answer to the sacramental appeals, it is presence in the appeals of charity. Just as I like it, a small faith so small as to carry mountains … Here the human material (the same in which Christ became incarnate) never strays too far from traditional forms, has no educated exponents, does not assume in religion contemporary manners. I don’t know if he managed to send someone to Heaven, but I tried to make everyone understand that our first and indispensable vocation is the earth. I taught children who did not know that there are stars in the sky to look at the sky on starry nights; it is by counting them that we have reached the morning star, the one that knows no sunset, Christ, no longer just dead, but risen for love of men ”.
Here is born the crazy and sagacious genius of Don Gino, made of hands immersed in the womb of life in contact with the poverty, the miseries of existences. Hands that one day will bless …: “I came here when children knew little about the smile of an adult, and I called them by name and reminded their parents of the healthy pride of being mothers and fathers of wonderful children, when they saw the their children welcomed to the catechism among beautiful things, or small actors in the recitine of the Parish, or center of attention and hope and sighs in the days of the sacraments … ». Don Gino’s parish was not limited in one space, but it was a widespread parish. He possessed the charisma of being able to get to know people in depth: everyone with him felt welcomed as a person, for what he was. Don Gino was a priest of open ideas, intellectually curious, dialoguing, and his was a very concrete spirituality. Moreover, he was sought after by many, and despite his precarious health, he continued to be always smiling and full of enthusiasm. I never remember seeing Don Gino with a serious, detached, elitist attitude, but he was easygoing, self-deprecating and self-destructive.
Don Gino managed to show us very young priests the face of his father and his friend in a way that no one has ever shown us. He has been the point of reference for several young priests for years. How many times did he welcome us into his rectory and between a coffee and a joke he knew how to fit in with the announcement of consolation in our first difficulties, stimulating us to move forward by relying on the merciful power of God. Many times he invited us to listen to classical music and to listen he commented on and brought us back to ancient and contemporary works of art; they were meetings of catechesis and human and spiritual formation. Don Gino was like this with priests and laity and he adapted to every cultural level. There were three elements that characterized his house: reading, listening to good music and Byzantine icons. He united these three elements that led him to bursts of deep meditation, remaining with his feet on the earth. There are many memories of him, but I prefer to stop here and invite Don Gino’s friends to pray for him and for all the priests.
I conclude this memory of dear Don Gino with a quote from one of his writings dated 7 October 2000: “Today you return to your home, Mary woman in celebration, a house that already in the name makes you so close to us: the STERPETO. From the time of our fathers you chose to live among the brushwood, as if to signify that our whole life is like a field to be cleared and turned to cultivation. We therefore know that it is human fatigue, supported by the grace of the Spirit of God, that transforms a scrub into an orchard: you yourself, at the wedding at Cana, to the servants who knew that the wine was finished and that therefore joy was about to turn into sadness , you said with a sure voice and with a confident look: “Do what Jesus tells you”. Jesus, that Son whom you carry tightly to you and whom you also present and offer to us, with you he looked and listened and with you he blessed us widely. And we, at your invitation, ask him what he wants to be done. He wants from each and every one of us: certain faith without compromise, strong hope without hesitation, joyful charity without fatigue, high experience without presumption. And the water of our existence will turn into the wine of our witnessing ».
Don Gino, loved by Barletta: the memory of Don Francesco Fruscio