Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - On the recurrence of the Centenary of the death of Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, presided on Sunday 30 January a solemn concelebration for the opening of the Scalabriniano Centenary at the church of Santi Ambrogio and Carlo al Corso, in Rome. Besides Cardinals, bishops and civil authorities at the celebration there were numerous members of the communities of immigrants in Rome, particularly of the Chaplainces for Latin-Americans, Brazilians and Philippines, and service agencies entrusted to the men and women Scalabriniani missionaries. The Holy Mass was enriched with manifestations and sounds offered by 7 choirs: choir of the communities of male and female Scalabrini formation in Rome, the choir and choreography of children of the Filipino community, choirs of Latin America, Congolese, Rumanian, Brazilian communities and the choir of the parish of SS. Redentore di Val Melaina in Rome.
Centenary celebrations will culminate in Piacenza on June 1, 2005, date of the anniversary of the death of Scalabrini.
Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, born at Fino Mornasco (Como) 8 July 1839, was ordained Bishop of Piacenza on 30 January 1876 in the Chapel of Propaganda Fide in Rome. During his frequent visits to Rome he was accustomed to visit the church of San Carlo al Corso and stayed at the adjacent Collegio Lombardo which was often the object of his generous attention. From 1876 to his death he was Bishop of Piacenza, where he distinguished himself for numerous pastoral and social initiatives. Scalabrini is remember today for prophetic initiatives in favour of Italian emigrants at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
For their assistance he founded the Congregazioni dei Missionari (1887) and the Missionary Sisters (1895) of St Charles and encouraged involvement of the laity in assistance at ports of departure in Italy and landing in the Americas. More recently a third institute was born in Switzerland taking inspiration from the spirituality of Scalabrini: the Institute of Secular Scalabrini Missionaries. Today, with the urgency of the migratory phenomenon a growing movement of lay volunteers responds to the challenge drawing inspiration from the figure and intuitions of Scalabrini.
The three Institutes of the Scalabrini family make the Centenary an occasion for deepening awareness of the charisma of attention for migrants which represents the spiritual and moral heritage of Blessed Scalabrini, and to re-propose it in the face of the vast phenomenon of modern migration not only in the ecclesiastical field of pastoral and assistance but also in civil society and political and legislative responsibility. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/1/2005; righe 31; parole 405)
