Marcellino Forcellini (6th December, 1930 – 23rd November, 2016), was born in Paris, but was a citizen of the Republic of San Marino, being the only Carmelite to hail from this tiny independent state. His country awarded him recognition for his missionary work and attentiveness to the destitute.
A religious from the Roman province, he was a missionary in the Congo for nearly fifty years. Kananga, Ntambwe, Kinshasa, Bukavu and Lubumbashi were some of the places in which he carried out work as a parish priest, being in charge and even the founder in the case of the Church’s presence in some instances. His life was more replete with concerns and problems than with earthly glory, but he surrendered himself to tireless work unreservedly.
He was one of the organisers of pastoral work for vocations and formation with those first called to Carmel in the Congo.
He was called, as a faithful servant, to the house of the Father on 23rd October just passed, on the very day on which the Church celebrates the work of the the missions and missionaries. His life will be recounted in the missionary history of Carmel and through the mercy of God, his name will be written in the book of the Life. May he rest in peace.
