A Community's Farewell: Macau Honors Fr. Mario

In Loving Memory of Fr. Mario, CMF Fr. Mario Vincenzo Bonfaini, CMF Faithful Servant, Tireless Missionary, Joyful Witness

(19 May 1939 – 8 October 2025)

MACAU – On the morning of October 11, a profound sense of peace settled over St. Lawrence Church. The sun streamed through the ancient windows, illuminating a community united in grief and gratitude. The whole of Macau—parishioners, friends, and collaborators—had gathered for a final prayer for Fr. Mario.

The Requiem Mass, led by Bishop Stephen Lee at 11:30 a.m., was a solemn and beautiful tribute. The church was filled to capacity, a testament to a life lived in dedicated service. In his homily, Bishop Lee spoke not just of loss, but of the enduring legacy of a missionary heart, a man who had found a home far from his own and made it holy through his love and labor.

As the final notes of the recessional hymn faded, a quiet procession followed the casket. This was not just a farewell within the church's walls; it was the beginning of a final journey. In a final act of love and respect, the remains of Fr. Mario were sent to China for cremation, a solemn transition carried out with the same dignity that marked his life.

It was a morning of both sorrow and sacred promise, as the community entrusted their beloved priest to the eternal embrace of God.