Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni - The Holy Formator and Shepherd
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni |
The Rogationist priests, seminarians and the faithful of Parañaque would fondly remember an old Italian priest who is known for his reputation of holiness, especially to his fellow Rogationists who learned from this holy priest as their formator.
Fr. Joseph Aveni gained much love, admiration and respect from his fellow priests, brothers, within and outside his congregation and also by the faithful who seeks his counsel in their spiritual and temporal needs that led them closer to God. So much so that even after his death, he continues to extend his help for those who needed guidance in this life which prompted the cause for his beatification and canonization to open on February 1, 2020.
For this blogpost, were going to look on the holy life of Reverend Father Joseph Aveni, RCJ from his early years as priest of the Congregation and his call to be a formator of future priests, and a guide to his flock that earned his reputation of sanctity to those priests, seminarians and the faithful whose lives were touched by the life and teachings of this holy priest.
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni |
Fr. Joseph Aveni, RCJ was born on December 5, 1918 in Tripi, Messina, Italy. Learning catechism at an early age, he grew into a prayerful young boy and after finishing elementary school, confided that he wanted to be a priest. He entered the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus on September 1931 in the Avignone District, in Messina, where he spent his formative years and was ordained priest in the Church of Montevergine on July 15, 1945.
His Calllng as a formator
His Superiors immediately saw in Fr. Joseph the charism of a formator so much so that, in 1947, though not even thirty years old, he was appointed as Novice Master in Trani.
After nine years he was called to Rome to be the Director of the Theology Students; in 1959, he resumed the office of Novice Master in Florence and then in Zagarolo, until 1972, when he was assigned as Spiritual Father in “Christ the King” Seminary in Messina.
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni in his mission in the Philippines |
In the 1974 General Chapter he was elected Vicar General and Councilor for Religious Life. At the end of the mandate, in 1980, he was assigned to the mission in the Philippines, where he resumed the office of Novice Master.
While faithfully carrying out his assignment, he dedicated himself also to the ministry of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual direction of seminarians and sisters of the numerous congregations in the area. From 1991, when he left the office of Novice Master, he totally devoted himself to hearing confessions and spiritual direction, nourishing his spirit with constant prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
His SpiritualityAlthough he actively performed his task with much vigor, Fr. Aveni is known to have a gift of wisdom that he it is said that he used to write his reflections, thoughts, prayers and quotes from the Sacred Scripture, lives of the saints and other holy books that he would later share to his fellow priests. seminarians and to the faithful who needed guidance the most.
Fr. Aveni is also known for his great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary which witnesses would testify that he always holds his rosary and prayed the beads unceasingly because he knows that "the secret of our perseverance lies in our filial devotion to Mary".
In his remaining years, he was able to live in the internet age and viewed the internet as a grace of God given to humanity. In his writings, he noted that: "I know that these wonderful means which the Lord gave us the grace to discover, instead of using them for His glory and for our greater benefit, at times man makes us of them for evil and his own temporal and eternal ruin. [...] I would like to exhort all those who have the possibility to read this, to thank the Lord for these divine gifts given to humanity and, at the same time to pray fervently so that he would always triumph and destroy the evil, for his greater glory and for the salvation of all men."
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni in his last days |
Fr. Aveni's health, which had always been delicate, progressively deteriorated over the last decade due to poor blood circulation. In April 2009 he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor which he overcame with patience and through a new “gene therapy”. He endured the pain with serenity entrusting himself completely in the hands of the will of God, as he had always recommended to his spiritual children. During his illness, he lovingly welcomed patients,doctors and those who wanted to hear a word of comfort or simply receive his blessing. Fr. Aveni offered his sickness for the intentions of the Holy Church, for the glory of God, for the salvation of souls, for the conversion of sinners, and especially for the increase of vocations in the whole Church.
Remaining faithful to the rhythms of community life until the end, always smiling, centered on the Lord, and concerned for his confreres and for his “beloved Congregation”, Fr. Joseph was widely acknowledged as a highly spiritual person. He spent his life in an unceasing prayer for vocations.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Aveni died at the Rogationist Seminary in Parañaque City on July 24, 2010 and was buried at the Manila Memorial Park.
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni, RCJ |
Soon after his death, the Aveni Foundation was established by Dr. Erlinda Gordon, the lead physician who took care of him, during the last few years of his life. The Foundation’s mission is to raise funds which will be geared toward special projects in the research and development of new therapies which will provide clinical benefits without the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
As the 2010's decade came to a close, plans for Fr. Aveni's beatification and canonization began after a careful study on his life, writings and virtues and there were already reports of answered favors and miracles that were attributed through his intercession.
On September 6, 2019, a decree from the Congregation of the Causes of Saints was issued allowing the formal diocesan inquiry for the cause for beatification and canonization of Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni. A few months later, on February 1, 2020, Eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, the Cause for Fr. Aveni's Beatification and Canonization was formally opened with the ceremony took place at the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Parañaque City presided by His Excellency Bishop Jesse Mercado, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Parañaque. This will be the first time the Diocese of Parañaque to initiate a cause for sainthood.
The life of Fr. Joseph Aveni is a life of endless service for God and the Church. Throughout his meaningful life, we see how he truly dedicated his life to shape our future priests to perform and live up their calling to serve the Lord and help save souls. Let us all pray for our priests, both the good and the erring ones, so like Fr. Aveni, they may become like the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the betterment of his flock.
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| Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni |
God our Father, we give you thanks for the gifts you granted to your priest, Joseph Aveni, configuring him to Jesus, the Master who is gentle and humble of heart. With trusting humility he found in your merciful love the joy of his life, the zeal for the salvation of soul, and the light for his service of spiritual guidance.
He loved You in his neighbor and his neighbor in You, and dedicated his life to obtain holy workers particularly to the Asian continent. Glorify, O Father, this zealous priest, for the praise of your Name so that he may be for the Church an effective sign of your Kingdom.
Through his intercession, grant light to the young people, health to the sick who turn to Him, and to us, grant the grace we long for ( mention your personal intention), so that we may also find joy in fulfilling Your Will, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ...
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Fr. Genaro O Diwa
Censor & Commissioner, Comission on Liturgy
Imprimatur: Luis Antonio G. Tagle, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
References:
Aquino, Leslie Ann, "Diocese opens beatification cause for Italian priest who served decades in PH" Retrieved from https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/03/diocese-opens-beatification-cause-for-italian-priest-who-served-decades-in-ph/ on February 3, 2020.
Aquitania, Myrna, "Aveni Foundaiton aims to expedite development of gene-targeted therapies for Cancer", Retrieved form https://www.balita.com/aveni-foundaiton-aims-to-expedite-development-of-gene-targeted-therapies-for-cancer/ on February 3, 2020.
Aveni, Joseph, "Fr. Aveni teaches: "Our Love for Mary"", Friends of Father Joseph Aveni, Vol.3, No.4, January 19, 2016, Parañaque City.
Aveni, Joseph, "From the Writings of Fr. Joseph Aveni: Message for the New Year", Friends of Father Joseph Aveni, Vol.3, No.1, January 19, 2019, Parañaque City.
"Servant of God Fr. Joseph Aveni", Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, Silang, Cavite, 2020.
"Parañaque diocese opens sainthood cause for Italian Rogationist priest", Retrieved from http://box2145.temp.domains/~cbcpnews/cbcpnews/paranaque-diocese-opens-sainthood-cause-for-italian-rogationist-priest/ on February 3, 2020.
Special thanks to the owners of the photographs that were used in this blogpost.
+AM+DG+
santo subito!
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