Dear Fr. Massimo,

Dear Anna,

Dear friends gathered in St. Anna’s Church for the 10th anniversary of Fr. Tommaso Cuciniello’s death,

 

            I would have liked to be with you this evening to commemorate my brother and late friend Fr. Tommaso in the 10th anniversary of his sudden death. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was impossible for me to be there for this moment of meditation and thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of a zealous pastor, a learned priest, a brilliant orator, a friend of the people.

            He knew his parishioners well, he called them by name when he met them. He always tried to take care not only of “his” sheeps, but also of those who came from other parts of the city for the Sunday Holy Mass to hear his homilies, which were clear and rich of the Word of God.

            Tonight I would like to remember him, my dear friends, by underlining two aspects of his life: the first concerning the beginning of our friendship, from childhood to the entry into the Minor Seminary of Aversa, and the second concerning his great aesthetic taste.

            Since childhood, our parents, Domenico and Rita, Maria and Francesco, had taken care of our scholastic education and Christian formation. We attended the nursery school of the Nuns once called of the Retreat, in the building adjacent to the St. Marco Church in Camposcino. We had grown up together in this kindergarten before starting the five classes of the elementary school at the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Giovanna Antida. We were also neighbors, so sometimes we went to school together and in our free time we used to hang out as best friends. We were members of the San Gerardo Catholic Action Association at the Collegiate Church of Santa Sofia, not far from our homes. I remember the day when, at the end of the elementary school, Tommaso told me about his decision to start the training course in the Minor Seminary of Aversa, inviting me to follow him. For me too, there had been a call from the Lord: it had reached me through the voice of a nun explaining passages from the Gospel. The phrase that struck me was: the Lord exclaimed: "because the harvest was great and the workers very few!".

The spark of my vocation, however, would have died if Tommaso had not intervened to give me the courage to "follow" the Lord. It is, therefore, thanks to him, I can confess today, after so many years, that I find myself being a humble priest and a Bishop in the Lord's vineyard.

 

            The second aspect I would like to underline is his great aesthetic sense, in addition to the many talents listed at the beginning of this letter. It transpires above all from his numerous writings. He was a prolific writer. The booklet on the second series of the letters to the Child Jesus, published by Nolite Timere in 2011, contains 31 publications, writings, studies and liturgical texts!

The Municipal Library of Giugliano should collect his omnia work, an inexhaustible source for future generations.

Tommaso was an assiduous reader not only of ecclesiastical texts, but also of contemporary writers. He was fascinated by Mario Pomilio's Fifth Evangelium, he admired its content and style to the point of being influenced by it. One day he called me to talk about the autobiographical book of Judge Raffaele Cantone. He had liked it very much! We used to exchange books after reading them and I miss this.

His aesthetic taste emerges in particular - in my personal opinion - in three of his booklets: Anna Tibi Templum (1999), dedicated to the origins of St. Anna’s Church, "Accadde in quei giorni. Cronaca dei Testimoni"(2007) and "La Bibbia in versi"(2005), composed by some passages from the Old and New Testaments, in hendecasyllable verses and in septenary. I would like to suggest to the Municipal Library to dedicate a room to the memory of Tommaso in order to exhibit all his publications.

            From writings to daily life, his taste is everywhere, even in some personal details that concern myself. For my episcopal ordination, he asked some nuns in Naples to embroider the miter that I wore for that day, and which I still wear on special occasions. He himself took care of the design, which was very fine and liturgically appropriate. We exchanged gifts for Christmas, I still have some sweaters that I wear with love, they are aesthetically beautiful and well made. In my house I have a beautiful majolica representing the Flight of Egypt. It was donated by some friends of mine. Tommaso had it framed with great finesse. And I could tell you more of these beautiful gestures. How can we forget the beautiful nativity scenes that he set up for Christmas in the church and elsewhere, always characterized by spiritual and liturgical richness.

 

            Dear Anna, I would like to address to you an affectionate word of encouragement. I know that for you, dear sister Anna, the departure of our dear brother Tommaso was very hard and still is today. I remember Tommaso's joy for the birth of his little sister Anna, it was really moving. He wanted to share this joy with me by visiting you, newborn baby. This is the reason why you are like a sister for me too. I love you and I am sure that Tommaso is happy to hear that.

 

            Dear Tommaso, this evening, because of the very well known restrictions due to the pandemic, there will be few people to remember you, but you can be sure that your work as a pastor, priest, theologian, writer will be remembered forever, with your good-natured and serene smile. Give O Lord to dear brother and friend Tommaso, the crown of glory that you promised to your chosen ones, because he deserves it. A fraternal embrace in Christ, the High Priest

 

Salvatore, Bishop and friend.