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November 16, 2020Abu Dhabi.
Fr. Edward (Agostino) Saracini (93) passed away in Florence, Italy on the evening of 13 November 2020 due to the complications that arose after he contracted Covid-19.
Fr. Edward commenced his mission in the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia as the Parish Priest at the Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Ruwi, Oman (1987-1989), after which he moved to Salalah (1989-1991). He worked in the Bishop’s office in Abu Dhabi (1991-1993) till he took charge of St. Anthony's Church Sohar as its first Parish Priest (1993-2009). He remained at St. Anthony’s Sohar till 24 August 2012. Soon after he returned to his home province in Florence, Italy, where he stayed in the convent of Montecasale Hermitage for four years, then moved to the convent of Poppi near Arezzo.
Fr. Edward was born on 12 January 1927 in Bucine, Arezzo, Italy, and entered the Capuchin Minor Seminary at Lucignano. On 1 August 1943, he was received into the Novitiate at Cortona and made his first profession on 15 August 1944, and his final commitment on 12 February 1948. After his Theological studies in Florence, he was ordained to the Priesthood on 8 March 1952.
After equipping himself with a course on Missiology in Rome, he began his mission in India in October 1953. He served in various places in Northern India, such as Agra, Mussoorie, Barlowganj, Clement-Town, Saharanpur, Rataul, and Lalyana. In 1967, he returned to Italy for a well-deserved rest.
In May 1968 the Provincial asked him to join the young Tuscan mission of Mpwapwa in Tanzania, where he served for 19 years, several years as Regular Superior (Custos) and after the unification of the Swiss, Dutch, Austrian and Italian Capuchins into a single General Vice-Province in 1981 as member of the Provincial Council.
Fr. Edward was tall but of delicate health, gentle and friendly, a self-effacing quiet person of faith and prayer, peace and reconciliation, a listener who could give wise counsel, an avid learner in many fields of knowledge, spiritual and practical. Fr. Edward was keen on technology and always kept himself updated (he switched to the Mac when he was 90) He was proficient in Hindi, Swahili, English, and other European languages. Fr. Edward, a missionary all his life, proved himself a man of great availability who integrated himself well and was close to the people in India (14 years), Africa (19 years), and the Arabian Peninsula (24 years). During his retirement in Italy, he did not travel much but liked to follow developments in his former places of work and was happy to welcome visitors and share his memories with them.
After the funeral mass at Montughi-Florence on 17 November 2020, the remains find the final resting place in the funeral chapel of the Capuchins in Trespiano cemetery in Florence.