We give thanks to the Lord for the life and vocation of Father Antonio Vismara, a Consolata missionary and faithful witness to the Gospel, who returned to the Father’s house on September 20, 2025, in Rivoli. He was 83 years old, having spent 59 years of religious profession and 53 years of priesthood.
By Ashenafi Yonas Abebe *
With extensive missionary experience in Ethiopia (from 1972 to 1986 and then from 2005 to 2021), he passionately lived his ministry between Africa and Europe, his commitment to the mission, his responsibility for formation, the proclamation of the Word, and the silence of prayer.
Antonio Vismara was born in 1942 in Ossona, a small town in the province of Milan. From a young age, he felt the call to missionary life and responded generously, joining the Consolata Missionary Institute. He was ordained a priest in June 1972 and immediately sent to Ethiopia to serve in the Vicariate of Meki. Thus began a long journey of dedication that would lead him to serve the Church in various parts of the world, always bearing witness to the spirit that defines the Consolata missionaries: a spirit of closeness, simplicity, and fidelity to the Gospel and the poor. In Ethiopia, he worked with humility and perseverance, particularly in the missions of Meki (1973-1986) and Modjo (2018-2021), in a context marked by economic, religious, cultural, social, and political challenges.
After several years, he was called to the delicate task of formation of young missionaries: first at Bravetta, the Consolata International Seminary in Rome (1986-1997), where he remained for 13 years, and then at the Theological Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya (1997-2006), where he served for another 8 years. According to the testimonies of many missionaries who had him as a formator, in both contexts, Father Antonio accompanied the young men with patience, wisdom, and a paternal spirit, instilling in them his zeal for the mission, fraternal life, and the spirituality of the Institute. Considering his intense human qualities, we almost feel like saying: Father Antonio, a missionary born to educate.
In 2005, he returned to Ethiopia, the land where he had taken his first steps as a missionary, but now with a more prominent role as Regional Superior (2005-2008). However, his true vocation remained that of formator: he settled in Addis Ababa (2008-2018), passionately dedicating himself to the formation of seminarians and local candidates, offering the best of himself in reflection, spiritual guidance, and life testimony.
A man of prayer, of listening, and of profound interiority, Father Antonio left behind numerous letters, articles, and reflections that testify to a sincere faith and authentic love for those entrusted to him. He also faced difficult times, including bureaucratic problems, delicate relationships with local authorities, and the complexity of ecumenical dialogue in Ethiopia’s multi-religious context, but he always did everything with balance, fidelity, and discretion.
In the heart of the Christian community and the clergy of Meki, Modjo, and Addis Ababa, as well as in the memory of many young missionaries, Father Antonio leaves a precious legacy: a life lived in quiet industriousness, in love for the mission, and in the patient care and accompaniment of vocations. He helped form generations of missionaries, many of whom today hold responsibilities and serve the Gospel on five continents.
His style was sober yet intense, reserved yet profoundly human, just as our Holy Founder, Joseph Allamano, desired of his missionaries: “Good must be done well and quietly.” Thank you, Father Antonio, for your example of love for the Lord, for the Mission, and for the formation and care of young missionaries.
* Father Ashenafi Yonas Abebe, IMC, studies Church history at the Gregorian University in Rome.
