SATURDAY 7 MAY 11.30 am at GROTTE DI CASTRO
Solemn Mass of thanksgiving for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Venerable Fr. Gregorio Fioravanti ofm, presided over by H.E. Rev. Mgr. Lino FUMAGALLI, Bishop of Viterbo, at the Basilica Santuario Maria SS del Suffragio.
For this day, the Apostolic Penitentiary has granted the Bishop the faculty to impart the Papal Blessing to all those who will take part in the Eucharistic celebration, both physically and through streaming (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ovNGgeOIKAy7HGgZbuoqQ).
The Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, in preparation for the next World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, has organized on Saturday, April 9, 2022 a meeting for young people from all over the country. The theme of reflection of the day was the one chosen by the Pope: «Mary got up and went quickly». The event took place in the Catholic parish of Saint Joseph in Sofia in a synodal context.
The meeting began at 10:00 with the opening of a welcome address by the parish priest Fr Yaroslav Babik, who welcomed the participants with the words of Pope Francis: "Young people in action in a synodal Church". From 10.30 to 12.00 the penitential prayer was prepared with the possibility of confession. In the afternoon the conference on the theme: The call of young people to holiness, followed by work of groups and sharing together.
We live in difficult times, in which the Lord invites us to face the challenges of a post-global pandemic, the scourge of war, the economic, social and demographic crisis. We are surrounded by a world of fear and disbelief. A time, in which all want to protect themselves first, following their own path, far from their neighbour, from the community and from Christ.
For us, the young people of Bulgaria, this national meeting constitutes a renewed commitment to hope and a new impetus in which we are clear about the desire of our pastors to make us live in the spirit of unity in Christ for the whole Church.
The meeting took place in a fraternal environment, where we were able to freely share our experiences of faith in God, without fear and prejudice among ourselves. The meeting also took place in harmony with the Church’s sense of sharing and openness towards young people as Pope Francis wishes.
The theme "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission" concerns each of us, and our pastors stressed the importance of the participation of young people in the life of every parish. Mons. Rumen Stanev, stressed the importance of courage, perseverance and love in our spiritual life because there are trials and tribulations: "We love what we believe, but we must also believe in what we love".
The testimonies made in the groups were a very strong moment in which young people participated freely and expressed the joy of strengthening their faith and the way to find Christ present in others and in the events of life. From their voice, we take this testimony: "the meeting has been well prepared; I look forward to the next meetings in which we will have the opportunity to be together and strengthen the friendship among us and God. Thank you very much to all the organizers, but above all to God for this grace of being all together for His love".
The meeting of young people ended with the Holy Mass celebrated by Mgr. Hristo Proykov, President of the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria. Monsignor urged us and expressed his desire: that there be a great harmony between the path towards the WYD in Lisbon and the post-synodal journey. "Do not ignore the voice of God that pushes you to get up and follow the paths that He has prepared for you" - added Mgr. Proykov. "Like Mary and with her, be daily the bearers of her joy and her love. Mary got up and went quickly to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Always ready, always in a hurry, but not anxious".
Sr Elka Staneva
At the end of February, the war in Ukraine began and soon we felt the need to do something: we could not watch with indifference certain scenes, listen to horrible stories and tales. The prayer then became unanimous and insistent, to implore God for the gift of peace, so that similar atrocities may end. But beyond prayer, we also wanted to give a small sign, a simple gesture that is a drop in the ocean but that certainly may have contributed to the great machine of solidarity that has been activated in this period.
Involving the school and the whole educational community, with pupils, parents and teachers, we sisters of the community "Mary Immaculate" with the beginning of Lent, we organized in the premises of our school a collection of aid and basic necessities for Ukrainian refugees, in particular by favouring the little ones. A nice group of parents immediately made themselves available for the service of receiving and arranging the goods received that arrived and with great seriousness and emotional involvement have completed their commitment.
Moreover the religious community has made the choice of essentiality in food to help the Friars Minor of the Ukrainian Mission who are engaged in welcoming refugees.
At the end of Lent, we joined another initiative by participating in the sale of Easter eggs organized by the association "Amici di San Benedetto" of the peer school close to us of the Benedictine Sisters. The proceeds of the sale would be donated to their mission in Romania where the religious are welcoming Ukrainian refugees in need of everything. Also for this occasion it was precious the help of some parents and especially of the students of our Lyceum who with great enthusiasm have committed themselves to approach and sensitize many people to present the project "Give an Easter egg".
We know that what has been done is a very humble gesture, but it has deeply moved us to see the generosity and sensitivity of the people. We are certain that these simple initiatives have given much more to us and to our educational mission than the help given to the needy, because it is true: there is more joy in giving than in receiving!
Il 24 aprile potrete seguire la diretta streming della Celebrazione dei 200 anni della nascita di Padre GREGORIO FIORAVANTI che si terrà a Grotte di Castro a partire dalle ore 17:00. La celebrazione sarà preceduta da un breve documentario che presenta P. Gregorio e la missione delle Suore Francescane Missionarie del Sacro Cuore nel mondo.
La diretta sarà disponibile dalle ore 16:00 su questa pagina, sulla pagina Facebook www.facebook.com/francescanesacrocuore e sul nostro canale Youtube all'indirizzo https://youtu.be/pg9itzFEAHU.
Grotte di Castro
Basilica – Shrine Maria del Suffragio
Triduum in preparation for the feast at the Basilica
Prayer and presentation of Fr Gregory
April 20 at 6.00 pm with children of Primary school and families.
April 21 at 6.00 pm with high school children and families.
April 22 at 6.00 pm with prayer groups.
Saturday 23 April at 9.00 pm
Concert by Fra Alessandro Brustenghi ofm in the Basilica
Sunday 24 April at 5.00 pm
Solemn Eucharistic Celebrationin the Basilica – Shrine Maria del Suffragio presided by the Minister General of the Friars Minor, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli ofm.
The Holy Mass will also be broadcast via streaming.
The transmission will be preceded by a short video presenting Fr Gregory and themission of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in the world.
After the Holy Mass, the new plaque outside the birthplace of Fr Gregory will be blessed.
The house will be open the whole day April 24, by the courtesy of the owners.
The children and young people who have won the drawing competition: a postagestamp with Fr. Gregory, will be awarded.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted the indulgence for all those who will pray inthe Sanctuary from 24 April to 7 May, under the usual conditions established by the Church.
The Bishop of Viterbo, Mons Lino Fumagalli, will preside over the Eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving on May 7 at 11.30 am.
Download the program of the celebrations