The Madonna at Lourdes

To make a pilgrimage to Lourdes has been a long time consideration and I must honestly acknowledged that I am more than blessed to make it possible from 17^th to 20^th September 2010 on account of Anna Menghi and Rita yet for another time. They had in fact arranged everything. I did only the going. And of course at the end, it was they who thanked me. How does that sound? I guess the guy must be a real nut.

Anyway, it was a wonderful experience. Among thousands from Italy we were 143 in our group from around the Marche region. There was a group from Milan who numbered to 3000 of which more than half were on wheel chairs. From the moment we landed to the time we took off for home, every single hour was definitely organized and always kept occupied. The Eucharistic processions, the candle lit rosary processions, the way of the cross, the International Eucharistic celebration, the visits to the grotto of our Lady, etc. are all incredible events.

I only continue asking the same question over and again. There is so much faith here. Where do they disappear from here? Where does this enthusiasm vanish?

Hi and Bye

By way of saying ‘hi’ I wish to thank everyone I came in contact in the US during my two months sojourn there. I will never do any justice to anyone if I start mentioning people who matter, for instance Sandy at St. Michael’s Indianapolis who was more than willing to sacrifice any amount of time be it driving me to the parishes for the weekend minstry or a lift to the airport at any inconvenient hour or for that matter Fr. Varghese Maliakal and Fr. Josekutty whose services I took for granted just because they are priests of my diocese. So I should be thanking very many people at every parish for their generosity and the wonderful experiences I had with them. I only wish to think and say that I try remembering every single person whom I came to relate personally. God bless their goodness.

I took leave of US on 7th September after two months of going around the different parts of the country. I must admit it was fabulous and a rare experience of all sorts. This been my first visit makes it all the more interesting and expecting the unexpected at every stop. I wasn’t sure of anything at any place but that made every experience unique.

Now I am back to where I belong or rather found a temporary refuge at St. Helena in San Severino Marche where my old friends awaited my return. I shall be here through the month of September until I get back to Rome when we start our classes in the first week of October. So as I bid good bye to one part of the world I begin another new day in another part of the world so the song seem to tell me.