EUROPE/ITALY - Orionini vocations flourish in Burkina Faso and India: on the Founder's feast-day attention focuses on vocations, the Pope, the family and the Orionini secular institute

Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - The Director General of the Piccola Opera della Divina Provvidenza, Rev. Flavio Peloso, celebrated the feast-day of the Founder, Saint Luigi Orione (16 May), in Africa, “among our dear African seminarians who are the hope of the whole Family” he wrote in a message for the occasion. “We have about forty young students of philosophy at the seminary in Ouagadougou preparing as aspirants to enter the Piccola Opera one day - Rev. Peloso continued-. This occasion invites me to give significance to the Feast day of don Orione: may it be a celebration for the entire Orionini family which give special attention to vocations all its geographical areas. Precisely today another great nation which only recently entered to orbit of our Congregation, India, two novices will make their first religious vows".
“On this holy day our thoughts go to the now imminent traditional Feast day of the Pope which we celebrate in all the communities of the Orionini family- the message continues -. The chosen theme for this year common to all local celebrations will be: Many hearts around the Pope, Guide of the family. Therefore another trait of today's solemnity, in harmony with the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI us the promotion of the family. Lastly, dearest confreres, the liturgical feast day of Saint Luigi Orione assumes this year also a tone of gratitude, because just a few days ago we marked the 10th anniversary of the canonical approval of the Istituto Secolare Orionino (13 May 1997 - 13 May 2007). This event prompts us to pay attention to the various forms of consecration which characterise the Piccola Opera: from the typically religious form to that of the Secular Institute and that of the Oblates". (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/3/2007; righe 21, parole 292)