Overview

Ugo De Censi Scarafoni (26 January 1924 – 2 December 2018) was an Italian-born Roman Catholic priest who spent most of his priestly life serving communities in Latin America. He is best known as the founder of the charity Operazione Mato Grosso and as the long-term parish priest in the Andean town of Chacas, Ancash, Peru. His ministry combined pastoral work with practical social projects aimed at improving living conditions and creating opportunities for young people in rural areas.

Work and activities

De Censi organized volunteers, fundraising and construction efforts to respond to poverty in remote regions. His approach emphasized hands-on service, education and technical training rather than only short-term relief. He promoted self-help initiatives that could be sustained by local communities and incoming volunteers.

  • Education: building and supporting schools, classrooms and educational programs.
  • Vocational training: workshops and courses to teach trades and practical skills.
  • Housing and construction: organizing brigades to build homes, community centers and infrastructure.
  • Volunteer networks: mobilizing young volunteers primarily from Europe to work alongside local populations.

History and development

Born in Polaggia, Italy, De Censi moved into missionary work in Latin America and soon focused on projects that combined faith and social action. He established Operazione Mato Grosso as a platform to coordinate volunteers and donations for long-term development work. Over the decades the organization expanded its scope to multiple communities, with an emphasis on projects that could foster local autonomy and generate lasting benefits.

Parish ministry and legacy

From 1976 until his death he served as parish priest of San Martin Pope in Chacas, working closely with families, young people and community leaders. De Censi died in Lima on 2 December 2018 at the age of 94. His legacy is carried on by the institutions, schools and volunteer networks he helped create and by the many beneficiaries who continue to benefit from programs that combine education, work and solidarity.

Notable about his ministry was the blending of pastoral care with practical development: rather than focusing solely on religious instruction, De Censi emphasized dignity through work, skills training and community-built infrastructure. Operazione Mato Grosso remains associated with his name as a movement that channels volunteer energy into long-term projects in disadvantaged areas.