Giuseppe Moja
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Moja was a Salesian priest and missionary in India
. He is part of the group of pioneers who began the Salesian work in Panjim, Goa, including the Don Bosco High School, Panjim. He also pioneered the Salesian work in Sulcorna, Goa, where there is now a substantial farm and the Don Bosco High School, Sulcorna.
, France
in 1922 for reasons of work. Here he picked up French, a language that he cultivated throughout his life, being able even in old age to recite whole poems by heart.
In 1928, at the age of 13, he entered the seminary at Como. From here he went to the Salesian seminary at Ivrea
, where he found himself immediately at home. He reports having said to his Rector after barely a few days there: "Here, with Don Bosco, I have found my place."
and made his first profession on 7 December 1933. He was soon appointed secretary to Fr Vincenzo Scuderi
, who was the Provincial as well as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Krishnagar
. He made his final profession at Sonada on 6 January 1941.
As an Italian national, Moja was interned by the British Government, first at Deoli
and then at Dehradun
. In the camp at Dehradun, together with other Salesians, he completed his theological studies and was ordained priest on 8 December 1944.
Expelled from British India as "undesirable", Moja, together with others, chiefly Vincenzo Scuderi, went to Portuguese Goa
. He thus became one of the pioneers of the Salesian work in Goa. The Salesians began their work at Panjim, where Fr Scuderi began an 'oratory' (a sort of youth centre), a Portuguese medium school, an English medium high school, and a technical school, all in 1946, practically in the year he arrived. Soon there were four 'oratories' - Panjim, Campal, Fontainhas, and Calangute. Fr Moja was the first headmaster of the English school, which began with a little over 200 students. The English school was granted recognition by the University of Bombay in June 1948. Moja worked in Panjim from 1946 to 1962, when he was transferred to Sulcorna, to begin the Salesian work in this remote outback of the southern Goa jungles. Here, among other things, he cleared part of the forest to establish a farm growing sugarcane, cashew, and other cash crops. He also began the production of the Goan country liquor called cashew feni (distilled from the cashew apple) which is still being produced and has a reputation in Goa for its strength and taste. Today Don Bosco Sulcorna, situated on some 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of lush land, is a complex work comprising a farm, a school, and social work in the surrounding villages.
In 1977 Moja was transferred out of Goa, after a period of 31 years. He was assigned to Don Bosco Lonavla as confessor to the boys, and then, after some years, to Don Bosco Youth Centre, Koregaon Park, Pune, as administrator. In 1985 he was appointed assistant parish priest at St Dominic Savio Church, Wadala East, Mumbai. In 1988 he was assigned to the Salesian Provincial House, Matunga, Mumbai, where he remained for about 20 years. Here he took over as Editor of Don Bosco's Madonna,http://www.donboscosmadonna.org the magazine started by Fr Aurelius Maschio that is perhaps the Christian magazine with the largest circulation in India, now reaching almost 1,00,000 subscribers.
Moja was honoured by the Italian Government with the title Cavaliere della Repubblica for his services in India.
Bernard Britto, secretary to the provincial and close friend, called Moja "an artist, poet, musician, preacher, linguist, writer, editor, physician, technician, farmer, builder, hunter". Another confrere described him as "a great Salesian".
Translator, Teresio Bosco, Don Bosco: A New Biography. Mumbai: Tej-prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, 2005, 2006.
Padre Giuseppe Moja: 'A Great Salesian. [Mortuary letter produced by the Salesians of Casa Don Quadrio, Arese, 2009]. 24 pp.
"'Don Bosco Moved Me to Tears'. Fr Giuseppe Moja, SDB (1915-2009), with contributions from Frs Ivo Coelho and Bernard Britto." Don Bosco's Madonna 11/10 (February 2010) 7. Padre Giuseppe Moja: 'A great Salesian'. Per 70 anni missionario in India. [Mortuary Letter, Casa Don Quadrio, Arese, Italy, 2009]. Ivo Coelho, "Fr Giuseppe Moja." SDB West 27/1 (June-July 2009) 13-15.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is part of the group of pioneers who began the Salesian work in Panjim, Goa, including the Don Bosco High School, Panjim. He also pioneered the Salesian work in Sulcorna, Goa, where there is now a substantial farm and the Don Bosco High School, Sulcorna.
Early life
Born to Tranquillo and Elisa Clivio in 1915, the young Giuseppe followed his family to VerdunVerdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1922 for reasons of work. Here he picked up French, a language that he cultivated throughout his life, being able even in old age to recite whole poems by heart.
In 1928, at the age of 13, he entered the seminary at Como. From here he went to the Salesian seminary at Ivrea
Ivrea
Ivrea is a town and comune of the province of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley , it straddles the Dora Baltea and is regarded as the centre of the Canavese area. Ivrea lies in a basin that, in prehistoric times, formed a great lake...
, where he found himself immediately at home. He reports having said to his Rector after barely a few days there: "Here, with Don Bosco, I have found my place."
In India
Moja left for India in 1932. He entered the Salesian novitiate at ShillongShillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
and made his first profession on 7 December 1933. He was soon appointed secretary to Fr Vincenzo Scuderi
Vincenzo Scuderi
Vincenzo Scuderi, born 30 May 1902 in Ramacca near Catania in Sicily, was a Catholic priest belonging to the Society of St Francis de Sales , and pioneer of the Salesian work in Goa, including Don Bosco, Panjim. He died on 22 November 1982 at Catania, Sicily.-Early life:Scuderi did his early...
, who was the Provincial as well as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Krishnagar
Krishnagar
Krishnanagar is a municipality and administrative headquarters of Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Krishnanagar is located at . It has an average elevation of 14 metres...
. He made his final profession at Sonada on 6 January 1941.
As an Italian national, Moja was interned by the British Government, first at Deoli
Deoli
Deoli is a city and a municipal council in Wardha district in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Geography:Deoli is located at . It has an average elevation of 262 metres .-Demographics:...
and then at Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
. In the camp at Dehradun, together with other Salesians, he completed his theological studies and was ordained priest on 8 December 1944.
Expelled from British India as "undesirable", Moja, together with others, chiefly Vincenzo Scuderi, went to Portuguese Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. He thus became one of the pioneers of the Salesian work in Goa. The Salesians began their work at Panjim, where Fr Scuderi began an 'oratory' (a sort of youth centre), a Portuguese medium school, an English medium high school, and a technical school, all in 1946, practically in the year he arrived. Soon there were four 'oratories' - Panjim, Campal, Fontainhas, and Calangute. Fr Moja was the first headmaster of the English school, which began with a little over 200 students. The English school was granted recognition by the University of Bombay in June 1948. Moja worked in Panjim from 1946 to 1962, when he was transferred to Sulcorna, to begin the Salesian work in this remote outback of the southern Goa jungles. Here, among other things, he cleared part of the forest to establish a farm growing sugarcane, cashew, and other cash crops. He also began the production of the Goan country liquor called cashew feni (distilled from the cashew apple) which is still being produced and has a reputation in Goa for its strength and taste. Today Don Bosco Sulcorna, situated on some 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of lush land, is a complex work comprising a farm, a school, and social work in the surrounding villages.
In 1977 Moja was transferred out of Goa, after a period of 31 years. He was assigned to Don Bosco Lonavla as confessor to the boys, and then, after some years, to Don Bosco Youth Centre, Koregaon Park, Pune, as administrator. In 1985 he was appointed assistant parish priest at St Dominic Savio Church, Wadala East, Mumbai. In 1988 he was assigned to the Salesian Provincial House, Matunga, Mumbai, where he remained for about 20 years. Here he took over as Editor of Don Bosco's Madonna,http://www.donboscosmadonna.org the magazine started by Fr Aurelius Maschio that is perhaps the Christian magazine with the largest circulation in India, now reaching almost 1,00,000 subscribers.
Moja was honoured by the Italian Government with the title Cavaliere della Repubblica for his services in India.
Back in Italy
In 2007 Moja returned to his native Italy, for reasons of health, having spent some 71 years in India. After some months in his native village of Orino, he was admitted to the Casa Don Quadrio, the infirmary of the Salesian Province of Lombardo-Emilia at Arese. He died here at the age of 93, and was buried at Orino on 28 May 2009.Bernard Britto, secretary to the provincial and close friend, called Moja "an artist, poet, musician, preacher, linguist, writer, editor, physician, technician, farmer, builder, hunter". Another confrere described him as "a great Salesian".
Primary
"How Wonderful Thy Ways O Lord! - An Eye-witness Account of the First Salesian Presence in Goa." The Memory of the Salesian Province of Bombay 1928-1998, ed. Peter Gonsalves (Matunga, Bombay: Province Information Office, Don Bosco Provincial House, 1998) 37-54.Translator, Teresio Bosco, Don Bosco: A New Biography. Mumbai: Tej-prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, 2005, 2006.
Secondary
Joseph Thekkedath, SDB. A History of the Salesians of Don Bosco in India: from the beginning up to 1951-52, vols. 1 and 2. Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2005.Padre Giuseppe Moja: 'A Great Salesian. [Mortuary letter produced by the Salesians of Casa Don Quadrio, Arese, 2009]. 24 pp.
"'Don Bosco Moved Me to Tears'. Fr Giuseppe Moja, SDB (1915-2009), with contributions from Frs Ivo Coelho and Bernard Britto." Don Bosco's Madonna 11/10 (February 2010) 7. Padre Giuseppe Moja: 'A great Salesian'. Per 70 anni missionario in India. [Mortuary Letter, Casa Don Quadrio, Arese, Italy, 2009]. Ivo Coelho, "Fr Giuseppe Moja." SDB West 27/1 (June-July 2009) 13-15.