Born in 1941, in Trivero, Piedmont, he first came to the Salesians in the summer colony of Vallecrosia. Accompanied by a close-knit family, he entered as an aspirantate at Casale Monferrato in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1968. Several years of service in the Piedmont communities then followed until 1980 when, after a solemn prayer, he wrote a letter expressing his availability to serve Project Africa. An availability he gave without being fully aware of what was being offered, but which, after decades, has harvested many results.
With Salesian Coadjutor Giovanni Patrucco, Fr Spagnolo was assigned to the mission in the Diocese of Ondo, Nigeria, where he arrived in September 1982. He spent four months studying the local language, and then went to his destination: the parish of “San Patrizio” at Ile-Oliji.
"A wonderful adventure began! Everything had to be re-invented! Providence always came at the right time. We started an oratory that gathered many young people in the afternoon. Later, the technical-professional school project was launched. Within a few years the welding, mechanical, carpentry, computer and mechanical laboratories grew," Fr Spagnolo remembers with pleasure.
Today he is in the Ijebu-Ode mission. "Catholics, youngsters and people have gradually come to know and appreciate us," the Salesian continues. “In December 2016, the bishop constituted a parish of our little community, a parish without a parochial home and a church 'without a roof!'
"Don Bosco is made for young Africans and young Africans are made for Don Bosco," Fr Egidio Viganò, then Rector Major, said to him before he left. Now, at the age of 76, almost half of them spent on missions, those words still act as spurs for Fr Spagnolo, who clearly sees the goodness of that missionary donation: "On July 16, six priests of the Piedmont-Aosta Valley Circumscription were ordained in Nigeria.”
“Jokingly, but speaking seriously as well, I say our future is black. And I say it with joy in my heart and with gratitude to the Lord.”
For more information, please visit: "Don Bosco Missions."
