Father Luciano was born the son of Vito Aste and Amalia Cumer at Vallarsa (Trent) on February 3, 1930. He entered the Institute in 1943, consecrated himself to the Lord through religious profession in 1953 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.
For four years he worked as an assistant and teacher at the Alpignano house and was then assigned to Brazil where he devoted himself to the missionary apostolate for thirty-seven years. During that time obedience called him to many different activities but his principal work was financial administration and the parish apostolate.
From 1964 to 1968 he was the coadjutor-treasurer of Nossa Senhora Aparecida Seminary in São Manuel. From 1969 to 1970 he was the assistant pastor at Três Maio. He was then sent to Italy for a period of four years where he became the director and treasurer of the seminary in Rovereto.
In 1975 he returned to Brazil and for eight years was the treasurer of the seminary at Erexim. Simultaneously he was engaged in pastoral supply work in the chapels attached to the parish. Subsequently he dedicated himself entirely to pastoral work first as the assistant pastor at Pouso Redondo (1983-1985) and then as the pastor in Cafelândia (1985-1992) and Curitiba (1992-1996).
In 1997 Father Luciano was appointed superior of the regional house in São Paulo. In April 2001 he underwent surgery for a stomach tumor in the Santa Catarina Hospital in São Paulo. The doctors discovered that the cancer had spread. Father Luciano was aware of his condition and asked to return to his native country. He came back to Italy in May. For seven months family members in Lizzana took care of him. His confrères from the Rovereto house followed his progress closely. On December 22, 2001 he went back to Our Father's House.
Father Claudio Fattor presided at the funeral in the town of his birth. In his homily he thanked our Lord on behalf of all the Consolata Missionaries in Brazil "for having given us in Father Luciano - a missionary filled with the spirit of faith, dedication to the missions and love for the Institute. In his simplicity and humility he was always willing to do anything that was asked of him; as our Founder taught us, he did all things with devotion and modesty." Fathers Gobatti, Garniga, Motter and others concelebrated.

Editors of Da Casa Madre

TESTIMONIALS

Humble and Simple

I saw in him a man who was both serene and humble, ever ready to take on thankless community tasks. He did not seek out exalted positions - possibly because he was aware of his own limitations but certainly out of a spirit of humility. In almost every house in which he lived he was involved in the financial administration. In his pastoral work he was always an assistant, a collaborator and he felt comfortable in this position.
I don't remember ever hearing Father Aste complain about his transfers: he accepted his assignments with good grace and took on all the responsibilities his superiors gave him. He realized that it was not the "nobility" of an assignment that makes us holy but rather the dedication with which we embrace it.
He was good at cultivating friendships. He liked talking to simple and humble people and felt at ease with them. He was always cheerful in the community. He was given to innocent pranks that kept community spirits high; in an effort to spread this cheerfulness to his confrères he was frequently involved in harmless practical jokes.
I think of Father Luciano Aste as a Consolata Missionary who was faithful to his religious duties; he celebrated the Eucharist every day and was faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours. He was always present for community prayer - especially the rosary.
He was a man of great sensitivity and was easily moved by both cheerful and sad news.

Father Jordão Pessatti

Friend and Counselor

I met Father Luciano in Cafelândia, Paraná, when I was still a teenager and frequented the Consolata Parish. I always went to visit relatives who lived there during my vacations and this is how I came to know Father Aste. I recall that he visited my uncle and aunt every morning. He always looked very serious when he arrived and this intimidated me. But he soon began to play with my cousins and I discovered how very cheerful he was. He loved telling jokes. Behind his serious façade there was the heart of a child.
People spoke of him as a very serious man, faithful to his obligations. He never neglected the parish and was attentive to all the chapels attached to the parish. When I had the chance to live by his side in the same house I came to know him as a friend and a mentor - my companion in games of Canasta and morning coffee. Every day he would ask me what I was reading and if I needed anything. He was not ashamed to ask for help when he needed it. Often we would recall the happy times spent together in Cafelândia.

Theologian Claudio Moratelli

Care and Hospitality

Although I worked in Brazil for many years I never had the opportunity to live or work with Father Luciano. My only acquaintance with him occurred when he was the superior of the regional house. He was always solicitous and welcoming and did his work unobtrusively. Even though he lived in São Paulo he expressed interest in our work in Bahia. He was always quick to offer ideas on community leadership, the formation of leaders, the political situation, human welfare, etc.
He was equally quick to meet the needs of those missionaries who passed through the regional house - offering financial assistance for our work among the people God had entrusted to our care. This was the way Father Allamano had served the mission - he lived for the missions and motivated his missionaries to do the same.
In the nine years I spent in the Northeast my trips from Bahia to São Paulo and back were many. The trips could last anywhere from 33 to 38 hours - we were never sure of the arrival time. Often he was there waiting for me after receiving a telephone call - many were the times he got up in the middle of the night to open the door for me. Certainly God will receive Father Luciano in heaven with that same warmth he never failed to show everyone on earth. Thank you Father Luciano.

Cláudio Cobalchini

Devoted to his Work

I lived with Father Luciano Aste for two years in Cafelândia, Paraná. I was in charge of the minor seminary and he was the pastor of our parish. In our daily encounters in the refectory and more so in our pastoral work together I became aware of his total dedication to the parish in spite of the difficulties he faced and the trouble he had speaking to people. In Cafelândia Father Luciano will not be remembered for his talks or homilies but for his good sense in concrete things, for his friendly words, for his sensitivity and care for people that was apparent on so many different occasions - especially anniversaries and feast days.
Some years later I met him again at the regional house in São Paulo where we lived together until he returned to Italy.
I recall above all the last months of his life when the cancer took its toll day by day. In the emergency room, in the hospital room, in the regional house when I gave him his medication, and on the airplane when I accompanied him to Italy, in the Turin infirmary - in all these places he would repeat the phrase: "Eugenio, how quickly it has all happened! Yesterday I was well and had no problems and now look at me." He said this with a sense of perplexity - but he was always confident and serene. He never complained.
As is frequently said - it is in times of trial that one takes the measure of a man. In his hour of suffering and dying, Father Luciano, demonstrated the greatness that was hidden in his heart.

Father Eugenio Butti

Great Spirit of Service

I met Father Luciano on the very first day I arrived in Brazil and recognized him immediately as a missionary who loved a good joke - this made me feel at ease. I remember our first meal together at the regional house - he tried to get me to eat a mango. This presented a problem - I had never had a mango and didn't know where to begin. His gentle teasing broke the ice and overcame my shyness.
Years later I lived and worked with Father Luciano in Curitiba - he was in the parish and I was in the seminary. He came to pray and eat with us every day. He helped us in so many ways and gave our philosophy students free reign in their pastoral work. He gave the seminary community countless little treats: pizza, wine, cold beer.
His pastoral apostolate was not one of grandiose projects or speeches - it was made up of many unobtrusive but important things: his presence, his work to create a secure infrastructure for the parish. He built an attractive parish hall for training courses and meetings at Curitiba. He took part in building the parish house and taking care of all its furnishings although he never lived in it since he was assigned to the regional house in São Paulo. I always admired his detachment and his ability to live with so few possessions. He was big hearted and generous and was never known to refuse anyone who asked his help.
I continued to admire the way he worked with people at São Paulo. He showed great respect and gratitude to the lay people who worked in our seminaries and houses for so many years.
At the end he accepted his sickness and offered it to God.
Father Luciano was a man of prayer. He was never absent from community prayer, he was faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours, Mass, adoration and the rosary.
He was a great friend and a fine example of a man from Trent. He could be as hard as the mountains of Vallarsa but at the same time with a big heart and two shining eyes - quick to respond to people who lived around him and to situations in which he found himself. Whenever he saw me off at bus stations or airports (I had to visit the houses of the region) he was always emotional. Departures affected him this way.
Thank you, Father Luciano, for the wonderful example of humanity you gave us and for the spirit of service with which you passed your life in our midst.

Father Michelangelo Piovano