A Pilgrimage to Medjugorie

I always thought of making a pilgrimage to Lourdes or Fatima but not Medjugorie. It was a surprise and unexpected turnaround, thanks to my friend Anna Menghi. The day started from 3rd until 9th September 2009. We left on a Pullman for Ancona Port and boarded for Split-Spalato, Croatia and spent the night on board. The next five full days were spent at Medjugorie with immense spiritual enrichments. We heard the testimonies of Maria and Ivan to whom our lady continue to appear daily. We visited many communities at Medjugorie to hear their testimonies of faith (Cenacolo, Oasis of Peace, etc). We made the journey to the apparition hill and way of the cross to Kresvac, the mount of the cross. The celebration of the Eucharistic meal, the endless procession of penitents to confessions, the depth of silence at the Eucharistic adoration, are incredible impressions of deep spiritual experience.

What I gather from Medjugorie is all ordinary; in fact too ordinary to believe that our lady chose such an obscure place – but Bethlehem or Nazareth is ordinary anyway. The extraordinary thing here is that everything is ordinary. At Medjugorie there is nothing to see without faith. Everything is simple, natural, apparently nothing supernatural.

Therefore, whether you believe in the apparition of our lady is – but owe to you if you doubt the manifestation of faith by the faithful and pilgrims here. At Medjugorie you find the presence of God (through our lady) more concretely and visibly. The message of our lady is simple: turn back to God (a call to conversion).

Top of the World

In fact, every peak is on top of the world. In any case, guys must not think that I am only going around doing nothing. In fact, that’s my purpose, to sketch and move on even if it is on a snail’s pace. Every vista, a panorama is a turn in one’s life. A day out to the Sibillini mountains (27th Aug), like Mt. Bove or Mt. Prata or to the community of Castelluccio, seated on a plateau with decorated valley all over and walled around by these scenic mountains. Why not to a lunch or a cappuccino adorned by this beauty. It was indeed a day filled with natural scenic beauty all over you. A visit up to Mt. Bove by seggiovia (ropeways) or walk around at various viewpoints may mean a bit too much but it’s worth the once. It was a day out, and it counts for a holidayed who must get back to work. It’d sure helps to go on and go well.

Never Forget to Celebrate Life

Keep celebrating life without forgetting your identity. Out for a pizza to Marchigiano or to Serrapetrona for the night to the feast of the maize or more exciting even to be there at Loro Piceno to zip to the vino cotto (which literally would mean cooked wine). It was a night full of life (23rd August). You find crowding from one spot to another, either to a sing out or to the steps like salterello, typical dance of the place. Watch out the video clip of the fire work at the finale. It was just fantastic.

Feragosto 2009

Feragosto is definitely a day of celebration if not for the Assumption of the Blessed Lady into heaven which at time is sidelined. In fact it is true. People closed up their houses and go off to mountains and beaches. The priest has to go there to find a congregation for the mass. I found myself right on top of Elcito, at the hem of Monte S. Vicino. It is such a beautiful little hived village, an ideal place for holidaying but not live here, so the inhabitants say. They no longer live here anymore except for the summer camping. Right at the tip of the cliff is the church of S. Rocco, cute and adorable. A priest rightly came on these days and celebrated the mass. I spent two days (15th and 16th) here with my parishioners so that I would not be left home alone blinking. Definitely it was an experience and worth the celebration. You can see that people wanting to be away from home and work for a day or two. So if you are working, you deserve a feragosto. (view picture of Elcito)

A Day Like This Counts

Some People are Always Special. I am back to my old community of Gavonata. They have been always special to me. They are very lovable, warm and homely. You just enjoy their hospitality, love and affection. This is the community where I first began my ministry in Italian, and tonight (4th August) a dinner like this with them is lovely. A day like this really counts.
During my short stay here, I also visited the sanctuary of our Lady (Madonna della Guardia) at Tortona where the remains of Don Luigi Orione (St. Aloysius Orione) whose body still remains intact, uncorrupted and venerated by the faithful. It always moved you to think and reflect on life, death and resurrection. Today, I am back in Sant’Elena. Life and ministry is rewarding when you are wanted, needed and you are able to give your service without reservation. God bless priesthood.

Some Days It Is Like That

A week has passed off quietly almost unnoticed. In fact, I am spending this past week in a parish at Cassine, in the province of Alessandria to substitute Don Pino while he is away with the parish youth to the mountains. Basically the day is left open to my leisure except the celebration of a mass or two. Saturday and Sunday were exhausting. I have to celebrate two masses late in the evening of Saturday and four masses on the next day with the first mass at 8.00 am. I intend to make up the loss browsing the desk for a while.

Among the Folks

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