From the 15th-19th October, the centenary of the birth of our brother Fr. Antonino Vaccaro, OFM in San Rafael del Norte, Jinotega, Nicaragua, was celebrated. He was celebrated by the brothers serving in Nicaragua.
Br. Antonino was born in Syracuse, Italy, on 17 October 1924, the son of Carmelo Vaccaro and Carmela Angelino. It was during the Second World War, when a bomb fell on the camp where he was staying. Everyone died, only he survived.
This experience would inspire him to enter religious life. But first he wanted to work so that he could leave some resources for his family. So he worked as an accountant in an Italian bank, but was also a member of the Italian Navy.
He entered the novitiate on 13 August 1959, made his first temporary profession on 14 August 1960 and solemn profession on 15 August 1963. He was ordained a priest on 4 July 1964. A few months later he left for Central America, where he would remain for the next 60 years, ministering in Managua, Mariguas, Chontales, Matagalpa, León and Chinandega.
The friars, the clergy of the area, the nuns and the laity of San Rafael del Norte, where he spent much of his ministry, have carried out various activities to celebrate the life and work of this brother of ours, such as the construction of the San Marcos Institute and the foundation of the "Antonino Vaccaro" School, where young people from the area are trained. Training for young farmers and secondary education. He also promoted devotions such as that of the Child Jesus and founded the group 'Daughters of Mary' so that boys and girls could receive spiritual formation.
Antonino was characterised by optimism, humility, charity, faith, joy and respect for life, qualities which he demonstrated with his famous phrases: "Who sings, death frightens", referring to the importance of a happy life in order to live a long life. Another of his most famous phrases is: "Long live happy people!”.
