Saturday, July 24, 2010, in Manila, Fr. Giuseppe Aveni, at the age of 91 years, returned to the house of the Father. Since December 1992 he had been in a serious state of health and everybody was expecting the worst. Again, in the month of April last year, due to a tumor at a very advanced stage, everyone thought that the end was near; however, he recovered once more. In recent months his health gradually deteriorated, but he was always lucid, and continued to spend his days bearing his suffering with utmost patience, spending long hours before the Blessed Sacrament, welcoming with great serenity those who went to him. For many years of his life, Fr. Aveni held the duty of Master of the Novices, in Italy and then in the Philippines; for some years, he was also formator of the theological Studentate, and was Consultor and Vicar General of the Congregation for six years. After finishing such assignment, he was assigned to the Philippines, which became from that moment on his second homeland where, he used to say, he wanted to conclude his earthly life. Fr. Aveni was an exemplar Rogationist, enamored like only a few of the Father and of the Congregation. All of us who have known and had him as a touchstone strongly feel his absence, also because we know that everyone of us had a big place in his heart. We are confident that from Heaven, where he had gone on a Saturday, accompanied by the Blessed Virgin, he will continue to watch over and accompany us with an even greater closeness. See photos.