Più siamo e meglio stiamo: Five New Missionaries in the Italian Province

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A popular Italian proverb says, “Meno siamo e meglio stiamo.” Roughly translated it refers to a situation in which as a community grows smaller, there are greater advantages. The fewer the merrier. This saying absolutely does not apply to the Italian Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood who on Saturday September 24, 2016 was enriched with the presence of five new Missionaries.

One that day at the Sanctuary of St. Gaspar in Albano, Francesco Caizzone, Ernesto Di Fiore, Giampiero Lunetto, Giacomo Manzo, and Giuseppe Vitelli were definitely incorporated into the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. V. Rev. Terenzio Pastore, C.PP.S. presided at the incorporations which took place during a celebration of Evening Prayer. Joining in the celebration were numerous other Missionaries, parents, and friends of the five candidates who made their promise of fidelity to the Congregation and received their Mission Crosses.

In his homily Pastore pointed to an picture he recently brought back from his trip to the Province of Tanzania. It shows five elephants and he said that the qualities that the elephants have are to be an inspiration for the new Missionaries community life and apostolic ministry. Following the incorporation liturgy, all of those present gathered for a reception and festive meal.

The festivities continued the next day. In a spirit of majesty and beauty, the five new Missionaries were ordained deacons by Bishop Gianrico Ruzza, an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rome, in the Basilica dei Santi Dodici Apostoli. A reliquary containing the arm of St. Francis Xavier, from the Church of the Gesù, was incorporated into the celebration. This was done to highlight the importance of Saint Francis Xavier for the Congregation.

A highlight of the liturgy was the music provided by the Choir of the Cathedral of Acireale. The choir provided a great sense of serenity and prayerfulness. In the Basilica that day, these five new deacons, in the spirit of the Suffering Servant Jesus, offered their lives to the service of the poor and the Reign of God. As Jesus said in the Gospel, “The harvest is great, and the laborers are few.” Thank you for your commitment to evangelization! And now back to our famous proverb, we will change it to, “Più siamo e meglio stiamo!” That is, the more the merrier!

Article and photos provided by Andrea Velocci

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