Antonio Riganti

On 27 October 1893, Antonio Riganti was born in Sesto Calende, Varese, a town near Milan, Italy.

He first entered the Milan Archdiocesan seminary in 1905, and later joined the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in 1913, he was ordained priest on 18 March 1916.

He was first sent to Albania to serve as the Military Chaplain during the World War I.

Riganti arrived in Hong Kong in January 1920, his first assignment in Hong Kong is the choir master to the Cathedral, then in 1923, he was assigned to teach in the seminary in Hong Kong.

He was made Rector of St. Joseph's Church in Garden Road in 1927, which he held this post for over 21 years.

Riganti was recalled back to Milan as the Assistant of the PIME Superior General in September 1948, but he was permitted to return to Hong Kong in November of the same year, where he became the Rector of St. Margaret's Church in Happy Valley, and the Procurator of PIME in Hong Kong.^[2][3]

After the death of the Bishop of Hong Kong, Enrico Valtorta, on 4 September 1951, while the Coadjutor Bishop of Hong Kong, Lorenzo Bianchi, was being under arrest by the Communist Government in China, Antonio Riganti was appointed the Diocesan Administrator of Hong Kong, with the full authority and power which is equivalent to a Diocesan Bishop by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith.

When Bianchi was released in December 1952, he confirmed the appointment of Riganti as the Vicar General of Hong Kong.

Riganti wad endowed with his musical talent since his childhood,^[4] he has composed several liturgical hymns, aside from his composing work, he also frequently consulted by other composers in Hong Kong.

In September 1959, Riganti obtained leave to resign his position as Vicar General, on grounds of declining health.

Two years later, in September 1961, he resigned as the Rector of St. Margaret’s Church due to his serious illness.

Riganti died on 20 July 1965 in St. Paul’s Hospital, Causeway Bay, due to lung cancer. He was 71 year old.^[5][6]

His remains were buried in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.