Elbasan (Fides Service) - Bishop Hil Kabashi apostolic administrator of southern Albania ordained Fr Dorian Maestri the first Albanian member of the Congregation founded by St Luigi Orione (Piccola Opera della Divina Provvidenza) since the fall of Communism. From the community in the north where Dorian studied philosophy and had pastoral experience, a bus and four vans brought people, many of them young, to take part in the celebration held in Saint Pius X church in Elbasan at the end of August. Many confreres and friends came from Italy for the occasion.
"It was a landmark occasion for the religious Family of Don Orione - said Rev Enemesio Lazzaris, Vicar general and delegate for missions - but also for the local Church in Albania living a new flourishing after much suffering and persecution. For us Don Orione it is a return to the past before World War II, when the congregation was present with many works and religious in the land of the eagles”. The sons of Don Orione returned to Albania in 1992. With the fall of the Communist regime about a hundred religious congregations and institutes fostered the religious re-birth of the country: many had been present here before World War II. At present there are five Orionini in Albania running Hope Village and pastoral and evangelising activity at Elbasan and Shiroka. Don Dorian is presently completing his studies in Rome at the pontifical Gregorian University and then he will return to his native country. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/10/2005, righe 20, parole 272)