Ceferino Namuncurá

1886-1905 19th century

Preparing oneself to serve one's people, keeping them at the heart of one's prayer.

Who was Ceferino Namuncurá?

The son of a great Mapuche chief of Patagonia, he left his land to study with the Salesians of Buenos Aires, longing to serve his people. Gentle and prayerful, he dreamed of returning as a priest among his own. Tuberculosis took him in Rome, at eighteen.

In their own words

I want to learn so as to be useful to my people.

Reported words