At 02.00 on January 31 of the year of our Lord 2024, at the age of 78,
FATHER FERNANDO SCOCCA, TOR
completed his earthly journey at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome.
Fr. Fernando was born in Gambatesa (CB) on June 11, 1945 to Matteo and Maria Donata Scocca. He received Baptism on July 24 of the same year, First Communion in 1952 and the Sacrament of Confirmation on July 19, 1959.
According to the documents of the provincial Tabularium, he entered the college of Francavilla d’Ete (FM) in September 1955. He spent the novitiate year in the convent of Massa Martana (PG), having as his first teacher Fr. Celestino Mastrocola and then Fr. Nicola Gentili. In the same novitiate house, he made his first religious profession in the hands of Fr. Gabriele Andreozzi, Provincial Minister, on September 28, 1961. He continued his training in Assisi, under the responsibility of Fr. Mario Silvetti, and on October 8, 1967, he made his Solemn Profession in the hands of Fr. Gabriele Andreozzi in the convent of S. Achille in Rome.
He received the ministry of Lector on March 30, 1968 and of Acolyte on April 21 of the same year. On February 9. 1969, he was ordained Deacon by Mons. Angelo Prinetto in the church of the Stigmata of S. Francesco d’Assisi in Rome and on July 13, of the same year he was ordained Priest by Mons. Filippo Pocci in the church of Ss. Protomartiri in Rome .
In 1969, he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University Lateran University and, in 1977, he graduated in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Perugia.
From 1969 to 1971, he served as Provincial Secretary at the convent of Assisi; from 1972 to 1983, he taught Religion in Rome, first at the Vittorino da Feltre school, residing at the convent of Ss. Quirico and Giulitta, then, starting from 1978, at the Renato Fucini school, residing in the convent of S. Achille. In recent years he also worked for a short period in the Roman Curia, at the Secretariat of State. He was subsequently elected General Secretary in the 1983 General Chapter; for this role he resided at the General Curia of Ss. Cosma e Damiano in Rome. In 1987, he was elected Provincial Minister, and, in 1991, he was appointed Provincial Secretary. In recent years, he has resided in Assisi. From 1999, he was Local Minister of the convent of S. Maria della Salute in Rome, until, in 1999, the fathers gathered in the General Chapter elected him General Definitor, a position he held until 2007. In 2007 he returned to the Province, in the convent of Assisi, with the role of Provincial Secretary and Local Bursar. Since 2011 he has resided in the convent of S. Maria della Salute in Rome, where he held the roles of Local Bursar and Parish Vicar.
Fr. Fernando deeply loved and served the Franciscan Third Order, not only holding important roles of service and responsibility in our Order, but also lending his expertise to both general and national assistance for Italy of the SFO, as well as for the assistance of the TOR Nuns of the Italian Federation Maria Stella dell’Evangelizzazione.
He has explored the history and identity of the Third Order through research and various written contributions; among his latest efforts, in 2007, he was among the editors of the Proceedings of the International Conference of Studies on the eighth centenary of the birth of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia.
A lover of Gregorian chant and sacred music, a person of profound culture, he was able to nourish his spiritual life and his intellect, entering with faith into the fight against the rapid illness that led him to his personal encounter with the Most High omnipotent good Lord.
He used to write down spiritual thoughts that were helpful and supportive; among his last notes we read:
if you don’t have something (or someone) worth dying for, it’s not even worth living.
It was all done for the love of Jesus Christ in the poor.
The funeral of Fr. Fernando, presided over by Fr. Paolo Benanti, Provincial Minister, was celebrated in the parish of S. Maria della Salute, in Rome, on February 2, 2024, the liturgical feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the World Day of Consecrated Life. Also in attendance were numerous concelebrating friars and priests as well as family members, the church was packed with many faithful, including members of the Neocatechumenal Way Movement, who in recent years have benefited from his paternal and caring pastoral ministry.
Fr. Fernando rests in the cemetery of Assisi.