5232(II)_Passionate communicator and missionary

5232(II)_Passionate communicator and missionary

Fr Francis Sacco passed away

October 21, 2019

By Fr Joseph Kriengsak, SDB


Bangkok, Thailand, 19 October 2019 -- One of the most senior members of THA province (Thailand - Cambodia - Laos), Fr Francis Sacco, passed away on 19 October at 4:50 a.m. in Banpong, Thailand. He was an Italian missionary who spent 62 years in Thailand. During the final years of his life, Fr Sacco lived amid the aspirants at Ban Nazareth (Banpong), cared for lovingly by the whole community and lay mission partners during his final illness. He will be remembered also for his passion to communicate the Gospel of Jesus through the various social communications media over the past 60 years (from the slides made by LDC editorial house in Turin until the various translations to Thai). He also had an MA degree in electronics (1980, Germany).


May he rest in peace - after 72 years of Salesian religious life, 66 years as missionary and 61 years as a Salesian priest!


Curriculum Vitae - formation and apostolic assignments

  • 1929 CATANIA, SICILY (ITALY)
  • 1945 ASPIRANT, PEDARA-CATANIA
  • 1946 NOVICE, MODICA RAGUSA, SICILY
  • 1947 SDB FIRST PROFESSION
  • 1951 SDB PERPETUAL PROFESSION
  • 1953 MISSIONARY SEND OFF (for INDIA)
  • 1957 SDB PRIESTLY ORDINATION, SHILLONG - INDIA
  • 1957-1958 PARK-CIRCUS (Kolkatta - INDIA) CATECHIST
  • 1958 BANGKOK ARRIVED IN THAILAND
  • 1958-1963 HUA HIN CATECHIST – PROFESSOR
  • 1963-1964 BANPONG PROFESSOR
  • 1964-1965 HAAD YAI CATECHIST - MISSIONARY
  • 1965-1978 YALA – PATTANI - NARATHIWAT MISSIONARY - PARISH PRIEST
  • 1978-1980 IN CHARGE MASS MEDIA DIOCESE SURATTHANI
  • 1981-1983 IN CHARGE CATECHETICAL CENTER OF THE DIOCESE
  • 1983-1985 HAAD YAI MISSIONARY - PARISH PRIEST
  • 1985-1991 SAINT JOSEPH - BANPONG PARISH PRIEST
  • 1991-1996 HAAD YAI PARISH PRIEST
  • 1996-2002 CHUMPHON PARISH PRIEST
  • 2002-2003 NAZARETH HOUSE - BANPONG VICAR – HOUSE ECONOMER
  • 2003-2013 NAZARETH HOUSE -BANPONG CONFESSOR
  • 2013-2015 PROVINCIAL HOUSE SENIOR CONFRERE
  • 2015-2019 NAZARETH HOUSE - BANPONG SENIOR CONFRERE