Joe was born to Salvatore Casti and Concetta Tocco in Borbona (Rieti), Italy, on 28 September 1931. His family was originally from Sardinia. His twin brother Francesco is also a Salesian from the ICC province.
Joe did his novitiate in Varazze, made his first profession in the Salesian Congregation on 16th August 1948 in Varazze (province of Italy - Ligure Toscana) and his perpetual profession on 16th August 1954. He did his post-novitiate at San Callisto, Rome (1948-1951) and his theological studies at the Crocetta in Turin (1954-1958). He was ordained in Turin on 1 January 1958.
Immediately after ordination, in 1958, we find him as catechist and prefect of studies in Panjim, in Portuguese Goa, and he was still there during the Indian military action in December 1961. In 1965-1966 he was vice-parish priest in Valpoi, Goa, in 1966-1968 catechist in Yercaud - South India.
From 1968 to 1974 he was the director of the house in Panjim, Goa. From 1973 to 1979 he was Provincial Vicar of the INB Province in 1973-1974 and again in 1976-1978. He was director of the Lonavla aspirantate from 1975 to 1978. The boys were in love with their new director, reputed to be a "black belt" in judo.
It was probably in Lonavla that Joe made the acquaintance of Tony De Mello, SJ, whose Sadhana Institute was just on the other side of the small village, where it still stands. He took a long training course with the great Jesuit master, and became not only a disciple but also a friend. He said Tony had set him free: he was no longer Fr Joseph Casti, he was simply Joe. But Joe was truly a free man: he took from Tony what he wanted, but always remained deeply Catholic and Salesian.
Joe was a delegate of the province to Special General Chapter 20 (1971) and GC 21 (1977).
In the years 1974-1975, in the incredible space of one year, Joe did a doctorate in theology (missiology) at the Urbanian University in Rome, while residing at "San Tarcisio," Rome. The title of his thesis was "The Mission of Assam, from the Arrival of the Salesian Fathers to its Elevation as a Diocese: 1922-1934."
From 1978 to 1991 he was novice master at Nashik (INB). He knew how to respect, "be patient" and touch hearts. His novices, when they came to Rome, always wanted to greet him with affection.
In 1991 Joe moved to the Provincial House, Matunga, Mumbai. He was Director from 1991 to 1996, with the task of accompanying the now elderly Fr Aurelio Maschio, procurator and patriarch of the Mumbai province. He ensured a smooth transition when Fr Maschio died in September 1996.
After Fr Maschio's death, Joe took over as procurator and rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Don Bosco, Matunga - Mumbai, in 1996 and remained in this post until 2002. During this period, which was certainly not easy for him, he suffered a severe stroke that left him in very poor health. In 2002 he chose to return to his Province of Italy - Ligure Toscana (ILT).
In ILT, Joe was appointed Director of La Spezia - Canaletto, a post he held for only one year (2002-2003). From 2003 to 2011 he was in Florence - Scandicci, and from 2011 to 2013 in Varazze. From there he went to Genoa - Sampierdarena for one year (2013-2014), then to Florence (2014-2017), and finally to the Beato Artemide Zatti Infirmary in Rome.
“Fr Joe Casti will be remembered as a great Salesian. He was always kind and caring, everything a Salesian of Don Bosco should be” Fr Ivo Coelho, SDB, General Counsellor for Formation, states.
