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Some Background on Fr. Giancarlo Bossi

Fr. Bossi was born in Abbiategrasso, province of Milan, on February 19, 1950.  He graduated from the Industrial Technical Institute.  Over six feet tall, he was an enthusiastic basketball player.  After completing his obligatory military service, he entered the PIME seminary in 1973.  He completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest on March 18, 1978.  He was immediately assigned to the missions, arriving in the Philippines in 1980.  After studying the local languages (Tagalog and Visaya), he was assigned to various parishes: Tondo (Manila), Siay, Payao, Manila, Bayog (Prefecture of Ipil).  From 1996 to 1999 he was in Italy for a service at the house that PIME has for old and sick missionaries in Rancio di Lecco, north of Milan.  After returning to the Philippines in 2000, he was sent to the parish of Bayog, Prefecture of Ipil, where he remained until a few months ago, when he was asked to return to Payao.  In fact, Fr. Giancarlo had already worked in Payao from 1986 to 1990, which at that time was part of the parish of Siay.  He was the one who in 1989 inaugurated the new parish of St. Paul.

Last year Fr. Giancarlo decided to start a new presence among the farmers in the hilly area of the parish of Sampuli.  He had already done something similar ten years ago in the mountains of Dominatag (near Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao) in a poor farming community.  He had constructed a small wooden house, where he prepared his meals, cultivating rice and vegetables on his own and celebrating Mass in a chapel near by.  Then he was summoned to Italy for the service mentioned above. 

 The new project consisted in buying a piece of land and cultivating it, together with some local farmers, using organic methods.  Giancarlo always said that he felt “rich” in the midst of the poor, and so he wanted to share the life of the common people.  Some might call it utopian, but for Fr. Giancarlo one must earn his living with the work of his hands and the sweat of his brow (something he had always done even when he was pastor).  In short, he chose a poor and simple life, but not out of any whim.  In fact, he always said this type of life allowed one to rediscover deeper values such as daily prayer, above all contemplative prayer. 

 Then there came the request to go to Payao, since there was a lack of personnel in the Prefecture of Ipil.  Fr. Giancarlo willingly accepted this request, which gave him a reason for returning to a place that he really loved and where his activity had been much appreciated.  In fact, one of the roads in Payao, the one leading to the parish, is dedicated to him, the respected priest: Fr. Giancarlo Bossi Street.  It was one of the best gifts that they could have given him.