...to see the Risen Lord.

By Jillian Cooke, MTh, MAPM
adapted from the necrology of the Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata

Bruna Casali

On September 30, 1972, as the general Directress of the Institute, she made the perpetual profession of her vows in the hands of Cardinal Antonio Poma (Archbishop of Bologna) on the occasion of the Institute's recognition as an Institute of Diocesan Right. Until 1985, she was the only missionary with perpetual vows. 

Bruna was born in Zola Predosa (Bologna), Italy on December 10, 1941.

When she was 18 years old, on May 13, 1960, she began her walk with the Institute. On October 17, 1960
she began the period of formation in family. Two years later, on October 17, 1962 she made her profession of temporary vows and entered into the group of fraternal life.

She was quickly at the service of the whole Institute. From 1967 to 1970 she was the general Secretary and the Directress of the community in Bologna. She was elected the general Directress of the Institute at its first general assembly, when she was only 28 years old, and continued in that service until 1988. For the first six years of this service she remained the Directress of the community at Bologna.


Upon leaving her role as general Directress, she became a the directress of the community at Bari.

During May and June of 1991 she experienced the first symptoms of her illness.  July 4, 1991 she underwent an operation and returned to the community not as Directress - but still responsible for formation. From October 1992 to February 1994, Bruna was a member of the community at the Center of Prayer in Pian del Voglio.

On February 24, 1994 Bruna returned to the community in Bologna. Father Faccenda, upon her request, administered the the Last Rites with nearly all the community present.

On the morning of April 2, 1994 - Holy Saturday - Bruna breathed her last. She was 52 years old. Her casket was placed in the chapel where the liturgical celebrations for Easter were held. This timing was a powerful comfort to the missionary family, who recalled her words - spoken before death was imminent:

"Wouldn't it be beautiful if leaving the body, one could immediately meet the risen Lord, and hear His voice call you by name one more time. Pray for this, my intention." 

Our Lord entrusted a special mission to our sister, Bruna, who was called to serve the Father Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata in the first years in which we came to be aware of our specific identity and structure, and thus we came to be recognized and approved by the Church. With our ever charismatic Father Faccenda, Bruna led the Institute in developing its marian, missionary, and kolbean charism and remained open to the vast horizons of mission - both within the Institute in the realization of a long time dream - the Fr. Kolbe Volunteers of the Immaculata - and outside the Institute through apostolate, prayer, and opening of missions outside of Italy - including our mission here in California!

Through fidelity to her consecration to God in the Immaculate Heart, she left a testimony of a truly holy life. Practically from setting foot into the fraternal life of the Institute, I was told of her heroic witness, summed up in Father Faccenda's words as being through the power of  "word, prayer, and sacrifice."  Her strong leadership and balanced nature was a strong support for many missionaries in these early years, and continues to be a model I often hear upheld. So, it is with conviction and sincerity that I - who never knew her - thank her and ask her prayer for each of us!