“Would the knowledge of my life’s happenings make the reader a better human being, before the creator and his fellow beings? If so, the effort of writing would get a reward from the new that searches the heart. A reward may last for a time or be everlasting. Only a fool would look for a merely temporary reward.”
Fr. Dominic Curto was born to Giacomo and Maddalena Andrina on the 30th day of April 1922. He had a great liking for further studies so through the help of priest and support of his industrious mother who also served as his teacher, he was put in the Salesian House of Ivrea. It was a house where young lads had to have Salesian Missionary in view. Within four solid years, he was able to fill his empty brain with knowledge. It was the custom at the Ivrea Salesian Boarding School to send the 16th, 17th or older willing lads to work for a foreign mission; which gave him the chance to work in foreign lands.
He naturally liked getting out of the country into foreign lands following his somewhat “Adventurous Spirit”. On the very birthday of Don Bosco, August 16, 1939, his big adventures began in India, a country that was really engraved in his heart. From then on, he felt that God wanted him to deliver something that had to please Him and not himself. He then realized God wanted him to follow His name, to steer his life towards helping him, serving some of the million people around him, and whatever would happen he knows that there is someone who lead him on amid the encircling gloom as Newman put it. He realized that , “I was born again”. He has passed the fight felt with God, had experienced the satisfaction and had felt defeated and God won.
On Epiphany day, January 6, 1951, he was ordained a Priest by Bishop Fernando Shillong. He celebrated his first thanksgiving mass on January 7, 1951 at Shillong, India, at the age of 28. His first assignment as a priest was Head Master of the Higher Grade School. Later on, it was affiliated to the Cambridge course in England. In a couple of years and due to his hardwork, it was joined to the Don Bosco School which became famous both in academical as well as in the technical sphere.
After two successive years in Calcutta-Liluah, he began his missionary works. He served the poorest and one of the backward tribes. From a teenager, he had become a grown up man. After 16 years out of his country and away from his loved ones, in May 1954 he was scheduled to go home. But he then returned to India with the encouragement of his mother. “Duty is Duty” his mother told him. Again he stayed there for ten years more. Everything went okay. As what his mother foretold.
A completely new start was to begin. In 1969 he was back in Europe. He remained there for more long months. He never thought of quitting missionary life entrusted to him by the Lord so he went to meet his religious superior, Fr. Tobill in charge of the missions. Getting his superiors’ blessings, he immediately made preparations to go back to India and continue his missions.
How Fr. Dominic reached the Philippines? Bro. Silvano Reltore his co-worker in Liluah had written him about the great opportunities opened to them in the Philippines.
On June 10, 1978, three Salesian fathers including Fr. Dominic took charge of Sta. Cruz Parish when in that time was abandoned. The Salesians are well known for their work among the youth which can be seen and one from the improvement and development of Don Bosco High School.
Sta. Cruz is indeed very lucky to have Fr. Lolo because of his golden heart and his principle of saving the people around him. With the help of some Salesian priests, 24 barangays now have their own chapels, where a mass is celebrated every Sunday. San Roque at Umboy, Christ the King at Sto. Angel Norte, Assumption at Patimbao, Birhen ng Sto. Rosario at Sitio Pag-ibig, Birhen ng Manaoag at Villa Silangan, St. Joseph the Worker at Callios, Maria Tulong ng mga Kristiano at Bagumabayan, Ina ng Awa at Brgy. Ina ng Awa, San Miguel at Duhat, Christ the King at Elrey, Virgin Dolorosa at Gatid-Pook, Maria Lourdes at Gadula, St. John Bosco at Palasan, Puso ni Hesus at Jasaan, San Roque at Oogong, San Vicente Ferrer at Malinao, San Jose at San Jose, Sta. Elena at Labuin, Sta. Lucia at Sta. Lucia, San Isidro at Mojon, San Joaquin/Sta. Ana at Calumpang and Mary Health of the Sick at Laguna Provincial Hospital.
“Caritas Christi Urget Nos’” or “The love of Christ is a compelling motive”. This is Fr. Lolo’s watch-word guide that would enlighten his whole life as priest.
Note: Watch out, there would be more articles about Fr. Lolo’s priestly life. If you have something to say about Fr. Lolo, please feel free to send your writeup to the admin at info.ssjbc.com.