Father Adriano felt this was the best solution because, although he was well looked after at Scalabrini Village in Bexley, he often felt a bit isolated. The Scalabrinian aged-care home in Italy is very close to where his brother and sister live, allowing him to visit them frequently and get to know his nieces and nephews better.
The Italian Catholic Federation of Earlwood expressed its gratitude to Father Adriano during a luncheon attended by numerous members, including the San Sebastiano Martire Association led by president Angelo Stivale, as well as local clergy such as parish priest Father Roberto Castillo and assistant priest Giraldo Alejandro.
Many of Father Adriano’s friends were also present, among them Pino Zappia, Sam Strano and Antonio Bamonte, who even proposed organising a trip to Italy next year to visit him.
Speaking on behalf of the parish committee, Giovanni Di Ioirio welcomed everyone and thanked Father Adriano for his years of service to the Italian community in Australia, especially for his 20-year tenure as chaplain of the Italian Catholic Federation of Earlwood.
The excellent lunch was prepared by president Pina Romeo with help from several committee members and concluded with the cutting of a celebratory cake. Father Adriano thanked all those present, with special words for the parish members and the San Sebastiano Martire Association committee, who presented him with a donation on this special occasion.
Father Adriano was born on April 6, 1941, in San Lorenzo Mestre (Venice) and was ordained a priest in March 1966. Assigned to the Province of St Frances Cabrini, he arrived in Australia on August 13, 1966, beginning his missionary work at the Italian Centre in Wollongong.
Over the next two years, he served in three different parishes in Victoria. In 1971, he returned to Rome for a year-long refresher course. After returning to Australia in 1972, he enrolled at La Trobe University in 1977, graduating in 1979 and receiving the La Trobe University Medal. In 1980, he participated as a delegate in the general chapter in Rome.
In 1983, he was appointed director of the Centre of Migration Studies of Sydney, which in 1989 became the Scalabrini Migration Centre.
In 1996, he was named coordinator of the Multicultural Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese of Perth and later became episcopal vicar. In 2013, he returned to New South Wales, where he was elected chaplain of the Italian communities of Rockdale and Earlwood.
In 2015, he was appointed chaplain at Scalabrini Village in Bexley and later also served the village in Drummoyne.
