The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1878-09-29
Diocese Of hatcher.
TIE LATE FATHERS oBERr1 AND v11oLo.

BRooKHAvEN, Miss. Sept. %. 1878.
Editor Morning Star
Allow me ID chronicle, through the columns
OF your paper, the untimely death of two
worthy priests. Rev. Anacleto Oberti and
Rev Giovanni Vitolo. Both were dear friends,
and the Il rst q rcaoolmate of mine.
Father Oberti was born in 1S47, at Nora. in
the Diocese of Alba in Italy, and after having
completed his literary and philosophical stud
les in Turin, entered the foreign mission col
lege Of Brignole Sale in Geneva where be made
his five year curriculum of Theology. He was
ordained priest December %. ISL, and his IL
reproschable conduct and exemplary piety
made him project Of students the following
year. The writer was more than once edited
by his charitable admoritions and brotherly
corrections The College of Brignole Sale, ESQ
called from the name of its foupders) although
directed By the Lag artist Fathers is neverthe-
less dependent upon and under the immediate
supervision of the Propaganda. Rev. Father
Obertl was assigned to this Diocese by Cardinal
BArnabo, and arrived here in December 1873.
After having spent a few months at Biloxi, to
! fAniliarize himself with the English language,
| he made At slant priest to good Father e.
Leduc of Bay ST.. Louis There be lived but
one year, and left for Holly Springs to take
charge Of that congregation.
| He soon ~oa for bin elf the love of his lit
tie dock, aud TIE esteem and respect of all,
| and when the time cane, as coed shepherd
! he gave his life fox his + :ck, and as true
soldier Ct the Cross died on the lith inst, at
the pa Il duty, of the prevailing epidemic. a
| victim to bis priestiy zeal and charity. He
Leaves q father, practcirg ply stefan in the
city of Turin whose great anger he had
once to encounter in order to become Mis-
sionAry. He leaves also brother, who is 3
priest in religious congregation in Italy
Rev. Giovanni Vitolo was born Of wealthy
parents A. d. 1870, in Naples, Italy, where be
made all his stndies and WAS ordained priest d
the age of % he was professor of Bellies Let
tres in the university of that city for severS
yeare. Bot when the Goddess government O.
! Victor Emmanuel made it almost impossible
for . priest to teach in one of his universities
without compromising himself before tai
Church, or mourning the hatred of petty tyr
ants, of his own accord he left hia exalted and
lucrative position in order to corS scrate him
self more immed ately to the service Of religion
as missionary in any part of Gods vineyard
Accordingly he left his native city to enter fol
. one year the Mission college OF Brignole Sal
= in Geneva to prepare hims elf for the duties o
his new life. In 1875 he was sent by the Propa
gardn to Cs!ccdopy near Cors.Antinople, an
remained there four months. With the couBen
of bis car Apostolic he wss then sent to thi
Diocese and arrived here at the beginning o
last year.
Our beloved Bishop, who is ever watohful
adminttsr to the spiritual wants ofall his f ock
assigned him as assistant priest of st. Paul
Church in VicksburE, where the Italisus wer
% numerous and without o priest t ) speak I
% them in their native tongue. The charity, th
o patience and the zeal Of Father Vitolo II
claimed many of bis countrymen who, Will
clinging to the faith of their fathers, wei
nevertheless living in utter forGetfulneSs
their duties as Catholics. Bot his labors wei
: to be of short duration. The plague hA
taken away the Pastor, Rev. Father MoManu
- had stricken the Bishop and the two otht
priests, and for few days Father Vitolo WI
left alone to administer to hundreds of p!sgu
stricken Catholics, until help arrived. He, to-
' fell at last at his post the 14;h inst, only
rise sgain at the voice OF his Divine Master
"EugS serre bone It fdeis, mira in gaGdiu
Q Domini tM" Father Vitolo was a sohola
D thoroughly familiar With all the branches (