Fr. Zago introduced the spirit of St John Bosco to Pakistani youth and in return Pakistani youth fell in love with this Salesian. They never met Don Bosco in person but they got to know him in the face of Fr Zago.
He did a lot of work for Pakistani youth. He was one of the pioneer Salesians together with some others but unfortunately none of them was able to survive for 18 years in Pakistan for a variety of reasons. Fr Zago and Fr Hans Dopheide started the mission of Don Bosco in Lahore and in Quetta.
Fr Dopheide, an Australian, established the community in Lahore and Fr Peter established the Don Bosco community in Quetta. He worked for 14 years in Quetta and we have a beautiful school there, a hostel for boys and girls, schools for Afghan refugees and other works. Today the Salesians in Quetta are enjoying the apostolate because Fr Zago worked hard there.
At the end of 2005 a massive earthquake struck Pakistan causing about 80,000 deaths, Fr Zago distinguished himself by coordinating the relief operation for displaced persons. Together with some young people he set up very quickly a refugee camp near the hospital of Abottabad. His work for the people affected by the earthquake continued in the following months through solidarity campaigns and initiatives in the field.
In 2013 Fr Peter was given an obedience to move to Lahore. Here he stayed for three-and-a-half years, working very hard without paying much attention to his age.
He had the charismatic spirit of Don Bosco to save souls. It is true that he set up many structures but at the same time he never forgot that he was in Pakistan to save the souls of Pakistani youth. For that reason, he continued to sit for confessions, celebrate the Eucharist for the boys and girls, go out for excursions with the youth and to work for vocations.
“I met in him personally a father, friend and teacher. Fr Zago loved to work for vocations without any distinction between girls and boys. They were all same for him. I am a living proof of his love for vocations. I am a Salesian today because he supported me a lot throughout my journey. For me he is a great Salesian. I feel personally that Pakistan has lost a great and giant Salesian. After 18 years with us, he has decided to leave Pakistan and settle in Italy. He wants to spend the rest of his life there, considering his age (82 years) and his health situation. We consider him the Don Bosco of Pakistan. The day he left all eyes in Don Bosco Lahore were in tears” said Fr Noble Lal, the first Pakistani Salesian priest.
“Pakistani youth will never forget him and Pakistani youth will always remember his sacrifices for the mission of Don Bosco,” Fr Lal concluded.
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