In Pace Christi

Fr. Mario Casella was born at Malcesine (Verona) on Lago di Garda, facing Limone, on 1 August, 1927. He attended secondary school at Brescia. He then entered the novitiate at Venegono and, the following year, was sent to Sunningdale (England) where he took his first vows. He returned to Venegono to finish his scholasticate and there took his perpetual vows. He was ordained in the Duomo of Milan on 12 June, 1954, by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster. After two years of further studies in the London Province, he was appointed to Uganda: he left in 1956 and from then on Africa was his life. He stayed for a first period of fifteen years in the diocese of Arua, up to 1971. He was then sent to Rome as formator of scholastics for six years. Then to Chicago (USA) to do the same job at the Comboni seminary. Afterwards, he worked for some years in Nairobi, Kenya, with the Apostles of Jesus.

In 1982 he returned for good to Uganda where he served faithfully and generously for almost thirty years. Initially, during the war, he was parish priest at Ombaci. Then he went to Lodonga, despite the lack of security, to reopen the mission which had been attacked several times during the war. There he collaborated with Fr. Renzo Salvano in opening SPACE, which included the Pastoral Centre of Formation for Catechists and the Cenacle Centre of Spirituality. He worked also with Fr. Torquato Paolucci and a diocesan priest, Fr. Emmanuel, and, in pastoral ministry, with Fr. Antonio La Salandra and Fr. Luigi Moser, at the parish of Lodonga. Fr. Mario was known in all the diocese of Arua, especially for his great availability to serve God and the local Church.
In May, 2010, he returned to Italy for a rest with his family but had health problems and had to undergo two rather delicate operations.

Fr. Mario died on Wednesday morning at the hospital of Borgo Roma (Verona). He never dreamed he would die far away from the country he had embraced for forty years, sharing the crosses and difficulties together with the ordinary people. A few months ago, before his health worsened, he had booked his return flight to Africa.

The news of his death reached Lodonga in a matter of hours, leaving the people in a state of shock, through the announcement of the superior of the Comboni mission, Fr. Roberto Pegorari, who made the announcement during Mass at the basilica.
After the requiem Mass at the Verona Mother House, the remains were taken to Malcesine for the funeral in the parish church. Fr. Mario was buried in the tomb reserved for the priests of the town, following the wishes of the family.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 251 suppl. In Memoriam, aprile 2012, pp. 50-53.