riday
July 2, was the occasion of a double celebration for Fr. Paul Zanon at
Coatbridge. The British Xaverian
community, together with family and Fr. Paul’s close friends celebrated mass,
presided at by Fr. Paul and concelebrated with all Xaverian priests of the
British Region.
The celebration was held, in spite of Fr. Paul’s protests for a low-key affair, to mark his 85th birthday and 60 years ministry as a priest. At the beginning of mass Fr. John Zampese on behalf of the British Xaverian community presented Fr. Paul with a chalice and paten inscribed with the dedication “In perpetual memory of Fr. Paul Zanon’s 60 years of missionary and priestly service.”
At the mass, there was another honored guest, Fr. Peter Noaro, Fr. Paul’s long-standing friend and colleague from the early days of the Xaverians in Scotland and their many years together in Sierra Leone. Fr. Noaro preached the sermon at mass and was also able to provide some amusing details of their experiences over the years.
"How good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity" says the psalmist. May the Lord grant that our members may always
reflect a life-comforting image. This will indeed happen if the love of Christ - so well described by the Apostle of the gentiles - governs relationships and patterns the members into a single family where all are of one mind and one soul.
Blessed Guido M. Conforti
Fr. Paul Zanon was born on June 22, 1914. He entered the Xaverian Congregation on Aug. 28, 1932, having personally known the founder, Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, who died one month later. Outstanding in Latin and Greek, he became professor at Parma in Desio (Milan). In 1950 he went to Scotland with other Xaverians to study English, in preparation for the opening of the mission in Sierra Leone. Fr. Paul left for Sierra Leone in 1951 where he worked until 1972. That same year he returned to Scotland where he has remained since.
Following Mass the 100 strong party, including Fr. Zanon, were able to relax and share some food and drink, as well as memories and reflections of Frs. Zanon and Noaro and the work of the Xaverians in Scotland since their first adventure of those years ago.
Since the event Fr. Paul has expressed his heartfelt thanks to all those who attended the celebration and who sent their best wishes with mass offerings and generous gifts. And finally, the Xaverian community at large would also like to extend their thanks to all who attended and helped with the organizing of the mass and celebration and to Fr. Paul Zanon for his many years of dedicated brotherly service to the Xaverians in Britain.