The official announcement arrived yesterday morning, during the Sunday celebrations, but the news had already been circulating for a few days: Monsignor Maurizio Funazzinow parish priest of San Faustino and San Giovanni, in the city, will go to carry out his role in Palazzolo, taking care of the pastoral unit that includes San Giuseppe, Sacro Cuore, Santa Maria Assunta, San Pancrazio and San Paolo, for more than a year left without a guide due to a serious illness that had struck the parish priest.
This move involves a series of changes that the bishop of Brescia, Monsignor Tremolada, had to adopt: the parish priest of San Nazaro and Sant’Agata will take care of the two city parishes, Monsignor Gianbattista Francesconi, which will also maintain its role in these two territorial districts of the Diocese. Three other priests were called to help him, as collaborating priests: mgr. Alberto Maranesiwho therefore concludes his mandate as parish priest at San Gaudenzio and San Francesco and Santa Chiara in Mompiano, Don Andrea Dotti who will therefore leave the rectorship of the Convitto San Giorgio and also the festive collaboration in the parishes of Chiesanuova and Noce, and mgr. Ivo Panteghini which already took care of San Nazaro and Sant’Agata and which from now on will also take care of the other two city parishes.
The letter announcing the news, read yesterday morning, is dated May 30th and signed by the episcopal vicar Msgr. Daniele Faita. It also contains words of esteem and thanks for the availability and generosity shown by those involved. The changes, in all likelihood, will be effective from the end of June.
«I am very sorry to leave San Faustino and San Giovanni after only nine years – Msgr. told us. Maurizio Funazzi -; I had a good time and now I will leave many things unfinished. But I go where there is a strong need expressed by the community of faithful of Palazzolo.”
Furthermore, the Bishop must objectively take into account the resources he has available, since every year there are twenty fewer priests and those available become increasingly older, with an average age of 63 years.
«The Bishop is reorganizing the Diocese for what it will be like in ten years. We organize ourselves today for tomorrow. For my part, I must thank Don Matteo Busi and Don Stefano Fontana who is also the prison chaplain for the help received in recent years – underlined Funazzi. In Palazzolo I will be able to count on four priests and on Monsignor Verzelletti, who despite his 84 years still lends a hand.”
