In 1867 he decided to leave as a missionary for China, joining eight other Franciscans in Marseille, including Father Elia Facchini, who died a martyr two days after him, and a large group of Canossian Sisters. He thus arrives in Uccian, capital of Hu-pè and main residence of the Mission. Here he must dress in Chinese clothes and take the local language name of Fan-hoae-te.
In 1868 he arrived in Alto Hu-pè, the goal of his apostolic camp that was assigned to him, where he remained for seven years. In 1878 he was appointed apostolic administrator of Alto Hu-pè and in 1889 apostolic vicar of Southern Hu-nan. During his pastoral activity he is subjected to various judgments with accusations made by pagans interested in and opposed to Christianity. His last years are marked by persecutions.
On 7 July 1900 he was brutally killed by a crowd stirred up by the "boxers".
