Visit to Italy

Site Features Home Visit to Bogota 2006 International Gathering of WYD Organizers (Rome) Visit to JM France (October 2005) Visit to Jeunesse Mariale of France Visit to Slovakia Visit to United States Visit to India Visit to Philippiness Visit to Italy 2004 Visit to Lebanon 2004 Antivirus	Visit to Italy 2004 Having been invited by the National Council of the Marian Association (the name used by the JMV of Italy), with the objective of participating in the National Encounter for Priest Directors and Sister Advisors, Fr. Pedro Castillo went to Rome from April 15-18. On the afternoon of the 15^th, he stayed at the CM General Curia and had a short meeting with the Father General to share information about the present status of the Association. The next day, Friday, he travelled with the DC Sisters of the Provincial House to La Vern (Arezzo) where the Encounter was held. The mountainous area, half of which was green with vegetation, is a place held dear by the followers of St. Francis of Assisi as this was where the “poverello” received the stigmatas, two years before his death. In the afternoon, after a prayer session, Maria Agnese Lovito, National President, gave the welcome address to the participants composed of 12 lay members of the National Council (representing the 9 regions of the Marian Association), 9 Vincentian missionaries of the three provinces of Italy (among them were Fr. Giancarlo Passerini, Provincial Visitor of Rome and Fr. Bruno Gonella, National Assistant) and some 65 Daughters of Charity Sisters from the five provinces of Italy. The Marian Association in Italy counts with nine regional groups (Turin, Siena, Roma, Alta Puglia, Salento, Campania, Western Sicilly and Serdena) and works with pre-adolescents, adolescents, young adults and adults; with a total of 2,557 members (1, 293 adults, 453 adolescents, 365 pre-adolescents and 446 young adults.) The theme for this encounter was “I like to have an Association. The Virgin Mary entrusts you with a mission!" Recalling these words expressing the request of the Virgin Mary to St. Catherine Laboure, they wanted to review how the request of Mary is being carried out today by the Vincentian Missionaries and Daughters of Charity in Italy. The first talk, presented brilliantly by Sr. Giovanna Fanulli, former National Advisor, was “The Virgin Mary entrusted you with a mission; the message, its past and the present. “ This reflection ended with the presentation of "The Journey of the National Marian Association during the last years" by Sr. Anna Luisa Rizzello, National Directress, On the 17th, Saturday, the reflection was facilitated by Fr. Pedro who presented for the first time "Role and Tasks of the JMV Advisors," a document approved by the International Council on 2002 and presently available in eight languages. By noontime, Fr. Giancarlo presided the Eucharistic celebration. A quick visit to the Franciscan Shrine followed shortly after lunch. In the afternoon, they reflected together about the "Personal Accompaniment" and made an examination of conscience, guided by the 10 commandments of the good companion. The day ended with a beautiful Marian Vigil prepared by the group of Serdena and a short break where everyone sang and laughed. On the 18^th, Second Sunday of Easter, they started the day with the Morning Prayer and Mass. After breakfast, Fr. Matteo Tagliaferri, from the Province of Rome and President of the "Community in Dialogue," facilitated the discussion of the theme, "Is the Associative Response Relevant Today? The Values of the Marian Association at Present in the Vincentian Family". In the final evaluation, the grand organizing capacity and manifestation of unity by the National Council, strong work support of the laity, the beautiful and meditative liturgical celebrations based on proposed themes, active participation of those present and the spirit of fraternity were emphasized. To wind up the Encounter, the three major leaders of the National Council (Agnese, Fr. Bruno and Sr. Anna Luisa) thanked everyone who participated and distributed small cacti tokens as reminders that what they have sowed in their hearts during those days have to be watered and nurtured in order to grow despite the thorns. The schedule for the next encounters of the Marian Association this year is programmed as follows: - May 26 - 30 , Marian Mission in Lazio (Valmontone) - June 13 , Marian Pilgrimage to Lorto - June 4 - 11 , School Camping in Patri di Tivo - August 16 - 22 , Family Encounter in Piacenza - August 10 - 22 , 3 Summer Service Camps in Albania and Eritrea * · August 8 - 15 in Triviglian with "Community in Daialogue" · August 22- 29 in the Rehabilitation Institute of Porto Potenza We place the fruits of this National Encounter of Advisors in the hands of the Virgin Mary, with the hope on the promise that " He, who began this good work in you, will carry on until it is finished."

Having been invited by the National Council of the Marian Association (the name used by the JMV of Italy), with the objective of participating in the National Encounter for Priest Directors and Sister Advisors, Fr. Pedro Castillo went to Rome from April 15-18.

On the afternoon of the 15^th, he stayed at the CM General Curia and had a short meeting with the Father General to share information about the present status of the Association. The next day, Friday, he travelled with the DC Sisters of the Provincial House to La Vern (Arezzo) where the Encounter was held. The mountainous area, half of which was green with vegetation, is a place held dear by the followers of St. Francis of Assisi as this was where the “poverello” received the stigmatas, two years before his death. In the afternoon, after a prayer session, Maria Agnese Lovito, National President, gave the welcome address to the participants composed of 12 lay members of the National Council (representing the 9 regions of the Marian Association), 9 Vincentian missionaries of the three provinces of Italy (among them were Fr. Giancarlo Passerini, Provincial Visitor of Rome and Fr. Bruno Gonella, National Assistant) and some 65 Daughters of Charity Sisters from the five provinces of Italy.

The Marian Association in Italy counts with nine regional groups (Turin, Siena, Roma, Alta Puglia, Salento, Campania, Western Sicilly and Serdena) and works with pre-adolescents, adolescents, young adults and adults; with a total of 2,557 members (1, 293 adults, 453 adolescents, 365 pre-adolescents and 446 young adults.) The theme for this encounter was “I like to have an Association. The Virgin Mary entrusts you with a mission!" Recalling these words expressing the request of the Virgin Mary to St. Catherine Laboure, they wanted to review how the request of Mary is being carried out today by the Vincentian Missionaries and Daughters of Charity in Italy.

The first talk, presented brilliantly by Sr. Giovanna Fanulli, former National Advisor, was “The Virgin Mary entrusted you with a mission; the message, its past and the present. “ This reflection ended with the presentation of "The Journey of the National Marian Association during the last years" by Sr. Anna Luisa Rizzello, National Directress,

On the 17th, Saturday, the reflection was facilitated by Fr. Pedro who presented for the first time "Role and Tasks of the JMV Advisors," a document approved by the International Council on 2002 and presently available in eight languages. By noontime, Fr. Giancarlo presided the Eucharistic celebration. A quick visit to the Franciscan Shrine followed shortly after lunch. In the afternoon, they reflected together about the "Personal Accompaniment" and made an examination of conscience, guided by the 10 commandments of the good companion. The day ended with a beautiful Marian Vigil prepared by the group of Serdena and a short break where everyone sang and laughed.

On the 18^th, Second Sunday of Easter, they started the day with the Morning Prayer and Mass. After breakfast, Fr. Matteo Tagliaferri, from the Province of Rome and President of the "Community in Dialogue," facilitated the discussion of the theme, "Is the Associative Response Relevant Today? The Values of the Marian Association at Present in the Vincentian Family". In the final evaluation, the grand organizing capacity and manifestation of unity by the National Council, strong work support of the laity, the beautiful and meditative liturgical celebrations based on proposed themes, active participation of those present and the spirit of fraternity were emphasized. To wind up the Encounter, the three major leaders of the National Council (Agnese, Fr. Bruno and Sr. Anna Luisa) thanked everyone who participated and distributed small cacti tokens as reminders that what they have sowed in their hearts during those days have to be watered and nurtured in order to grow despite the thorns.

The schedule for the next encounters of the Marian Association this year is programmed as follows:

- May 26 - 30 , Marian Mission in Lazio (Valmontone)

- June 13 , Marian Pilgrimage to Lorto

- June 4 - 11 , School Camping in Patri di Tivo

- August 16 - 22 , Family Encounter in Piacenza

- August 10 - 22 , 3 Summer Service Camps in Albania and Eritrea *

· August 8 - 15 in Triviglian with "Community in Daialogue"

· August 22- 29 in the Rehabilitation Institute of Porto Potenza

We place the fruits of this National Encounter of Advisors in the hands of the Virgin Mary, with the hope on the promise that " He, who began this good work in you, will carry on until it is finished."

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