My first reaction on hearing of the death of Fr. Pasquale Anziliero was to ask myself with amazement whether there were two religious who had the same name! I was deeply shocked.
I have vivid memories of this young religious who arrived at the community of the generalate house of Rome (Magdalene) in October 2003. He came to help the Order at a central level to enter the modern era through his capacities in the field of communications. In addition to this, he became the local financial administrator. It followed that he had to work in close contact with the Superior General and the General Consulta and he also became an active member of the wider community of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. On paper this does not seem a difficult task but anyone who has lived there knows that in reality this is a real challenge.
He performed his responsibilities with total self-denial and not without ability. I treasure the memory of how he knew how to participate in an active way, in his role as financial administrator, in the community meetings, and he also became a challenging element. I do not think that this approach was always appreciated by everyone given that few of us like to be challenged!
He was a dedicated religious, able to live the vow of poverty with enthusiasm, something that was totally evident in his presentation of the annual accounts and of programmes to improve the life of the community. His abilities in the field of communications were well known, but his generosity in sharing them was a reason for edification. I had personal proof of this when he tried to show me how to prepare papers with power point and in general to learn about the contemporary world of cyberspace. The help that Pasquale gave was invaluable: unfortunately this was done very quickly and without technology and its processes being my strong point. This meant that he had in front of him a silent pupil who often scratched his puzzled head before such an efficient – albeit overly swift – teacher. He must have become exasperated in his attempt to keep calm with his own Superior General!

Pasquale was a man of prayer and completely a man of fraternity. He was also a tireless worker and this to the point of working when he should have been sleeping. I have some fine memories of how happy he was when sweating while cooking a barbecue in Casa Rebuschini on a balmy summer evening. He enjoyed cooking and seeing other people happy. He really loved company!
At a personal level I will always treasure his kindness and the human support that he offered me at every moment. I experienced concrete evidence of this above all during the General Chapters of 2007 and 2013 when he was a member of the technical personnel. The simple gestures made by others to you while you are going through difficult moments, moments over which you have no control, are what make life worthy and make you carry on. Thank you, Pasquale, for this demonstration of your compassionate humanity.
The death of Pasquale while he was attending to a patient is what every Camillian wishes for himself. But he was too young for that!
Thank you Pasquale for all these fine memories!
May his soul rest in the peace of the Lord whom he tried to serve through his brothers and sisters!
Frank Monks, MI