The following account is given by Giovanni Gambari, OFM Conv. It is taken from "A Man, A Sign, A Story", published by Edizione Dell'Immacolata. For me, it speaks of the heroic beginnings of our Institute, which has found much of its unique identity and particular strengths in the priesthood of our founder. Why? Because a founder leaves a part of himself in his spiritual legacy, and Fr. Faccenda could have said with Fr. Kolbe: "I am a Catholic Priest." This is who he was, and his passion for souls and love of God were rooted, strengthened, and inspired by this identity. May it continue to motivate, strengthen, and inspire us....
" ...Permit me to recount some things that happened in that period of the tragic war....
May 2, 1944 there was the first aerial bombardment of Faenza, these were followed by another, and then others in the following months. May 18th, Father Luigi together with Father Giovanni Pedrini and Father Armando Raggini, were ordained priests in Fognano by Monsignor Giuseppe Battaglia, auxilary bishop of Faenza....The ordination took place in Fognano - 18 kilometers from Faenza, for the greater security from the bombardments.
The three ordained went to Fognano by bicycle, the afternoon of May 17th, took lodging at the Dominican Sisters, and arrived the morning of the 18th. There was only one confrer present at the holy Ordiantion, there was no family...
The Sacred Rite finished around 10 in the morning, and we set out to return by bicycle. But the unpleasant surprise, if you can call it a surprise: we had to stop 6-8 kilometers from the city, because it was hammered by Allied planes. The bombardment ceased, we retook to the road, and arrived at the convent (were we were joyfully greeted, as they were worried about us)...
The day after, May 19th, the three new priests celebrated their first Mass, one after the other, in the chapel of the Immaculata. A little later, around 10 in the morning, there was a huge bombardment... Afterwards, Father Luigi went to celebrate the "Solemn Mass" in his native town, Valle di Monzuno, accompanied by Father Bonfante..."
(an admittedly loose, but adequately accurate translation from the original)
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