Rubelio was born in Lozzo di Cadore, Italy on 15 October 1914 and did his primary schooling in the same place. Before joining the novitiate at Lonigo on 10 February 1935, he qualified as a tailor and worked at this profession for six years. After his first vows he worked as a tailor in the novitiate for four years. He took his final vows in Collegio Arici, Brescia on 15 August 1945 and had a short spell in Rome at Civiltà Cattolica. He would recall that when he joined the novitiate there were 66 novices of which 36 were for the brotherhood.
He had a great desire to go to India as a missionary, particularly to work in the Malabar Mission of which he had heard and read much. Finally when his desire was granted, he came to India in April 1948 along with Frs Lino Zucol, William Lonardi, Sch. Eligio Cantoni and Br Rinaldo Galimberti. However the Malabar Mission for him was 3 years in the Bishop’s House, Calicut, followed by 8 years in Christ Hall, Calicut, in the novitiate as manuductor (one who directs other Brothers), infirmarian, sacristan and tailor.
Those who did their novitiate at Christ Hall and Mount St Joseph, and later the boys at St Joseph’s Boys High School, Bangalore, will always remember Br Calligaro for his motherly care of them, particularly when they were down with ‘flu or some other ailment or when they went to him for some medicine. He would take care of their clothes in the linen room, and though the Society is generous in giving them new clothes, fast growing teenagers as they were, he would assiduously repair their old clothes so that they were reminded of holy Poverty. Those were the days when Jesuits wore the cassock the whole day, even in the novitiate. He would also cut and stitch new cassocks for them.
He impressed the members of the community with his great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and his attendance at as many Masses as he could every morning. During the day he would often drop into the chapel for a visit, a practice he maintained all his life.
When the novitiate was shifted to Bangalore in April 1959, Br Calligaro came with it. He worked in Mount St Joseph, the new novitiate, in the same capacity for eight years.
He was then transferred to St Joseph’s College, Bangalore, more specifically to St Joseph’s Boys’ High School. This was the last appointment that he received, and he lived in this community for over forty years. He took care of the needs of the community, beginning his day by going to the terrace to check if all overhead water tanks were full. In pre-Vatican days when con-celebration was not the practice and each Mass required a server, he would serve the early Masses of many priests.
After breakfast the boarders would go to his infirmary, a few because they were sick, and had to meet the house doctor, many just to meet Br Calligaro and get his greeting and cheery smile. Till today many of the boarders, now grown-up men with families of their own and holding important positions, would on their visit to the School never fail to meet Br Calligaro. The day scholars too would rush to his room, for he would give them foreign postage stamps, pictures and other little trinkets like rosaries, medals, etc. They too remembered his little acts of kindness.
The boarding house of the school was closed in 1984 and this was a grievous blow to Br Calligaro, because now he could not give his attention to the sick children. Now his service was reduced to giving first aid to the day scholars for bruises, etc.
He had great love for the poor. On his home visits to Italy, he had arranged with his family members to send him bundles of fine clothing. He would give these clothes to the poor. However the greed of some of these same beneficiaries forced him to stop this work of charity, for they complained to the police. All kinds of official red tape were to be enforced to receive these clothes and to distribute them. Along with clothes and little sums of money, Calligaro also used to get occasionally ‘il vino divino’ (divine wine) from Italy – dolce or amaretto! And those who visited him especially those who had developed Italian tastes had the privilege of a little sip over a long conversation proving the dictum: in vino veritas (wine brings the truth out).
But from his family members and from his home parish he received substantial sums of money which he gave to the poor, helping many to complete building their simple houses, others in family emergencies. When his mind was failing, he had to discontinue this work also.
His latter days were painful not so much for him as for the others who knew and loved him. The insidious progress of dementia was making him lose his memory completely, disorienting him so far that he was confused whether he had taken his breakfast or lunch. He needed care and supervision throughout the day, and Ms. Matilda and the room boys under the direction of the successive house ministers gave him the best care possible.
Br Calligaro was swift in his movements, so fast that he was called ‘il vento’ the wind. So too he was fast in his speech: though an Italian, he was fast in speaking English also. Another feature of Br Calligaro was that he could be straightforward; he would tell even superiors pointblank, calling a spade a spade.
He was the last of the glorious band of Italian missionaries who came to the Karnataka Jesuit Province, men of zeal, of faith and of knowledge. Though not a learned man, Br Calligaro was a man of great goodness, zeal and love. He was also a man of great fortitude, and even though he was trapped in a near fatal road accident in 1997 in which his friend Br Benedict Simonetto lost his life, he recovered and made himself independently mobile in spite of his knee being shattered. ‘By God’s grace’, he would recall later on, and the tender care and prayers of my Jesuit companions and friends, I survived and am almost back to normal, although a bit less free in my movements. As my Jesuit companions say, I am a little less ‘il vento’ at present. As I was not sent as an active missionary, I saw in it the will of God and offered all my prayers and work for the missions and missionaries, emulating St Theresa of Child Jesus.’ (Down Memory Lane)
Br Calligaro was not a missionary after the pattern of St Francis Xavier who travelled across the countries of Asia, catechizing and baptizing thousands. Rather, following the example of St Alphonsus Rodriguez he spent his whole life praying for the missionaries, supporting them in their apostolic labours, and taking care of their material needs. What characterized his missionary zeal was the fidelity with which he observed religious discipline, the humility with which he carried out his simple duties, the tender love with which he took care of the Jesuit novices and of the boarders, and above all, in the compassion with which he helped the poor. All who knew him spoke of him as a religious full of faith, an exemplary Jesuit and a true missionary. His memory will ever remain fresh with us to inspire us to do great things for Christ.
Br Rubelio Calligaro, who was a model of religious fidelity, dedication to duty and cheerful service went to his eternal reward at Jesuit Nivas, Bangalore, on 20 October 2008. For the previous few years he had been waiting for the summons from the Master. He would point heavenwards and say: “Time for me to go there.” Finally, when the call came he was happy to say: “Here I am Lord”!
- By Fr Richard Sequeira, SJ
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