For the first time in Rome, the Pallottine Family celebrated St Vincent’s birthday together. On 21 April, in the afternoon we met in the square opposite the family home of our Founder in via Pellegrino 130. As the group of priests, sisters and lay members of the UAC was numerous, it attracted the attention of passers-by, who stopped to listen to what was being talked about. Fr Daniel Rocchetti SAC briefly outlined the profiles of Pallotti’s parents, noting their hard-working and pious lives, and described the circumstances of the birth of their third child, son Vincent.
From via Pellegrino, participants walked in pilgrimage to the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso, the church where Vincent was baptised the day after his birth and received the names Vincenzo Luigi Francesco.There, surrounding the baptismal font, they all renewed their baptismal promises. They then had a moment to reflect on what the gift of baptism means to us. They also received with them, as a souvenir, the bottles of holy water prepared earlier.
The Holy Mass, which was the highlight of the celebration, began at 6 p.m. in the church of San Salvatore in Onda, with Fr Nicola Galucci SAC, Provincial of the Italian Province, as the main celebrant. The church was packed as many Pallottine Fathers concelebrated and a lot of Pallottine sisters from both Congregations were present, as well as numerous representatives of the Quinta Dimensione community and the UAC communities of Rocca Priora and Aprilla. At the beginning, all those gathered were welcomed by Anna Ciabotta, President of the Italian National Coordination Council. Fr Galucci, in his homily, spoke of how apostolate was the passion of Pallotti, who wanted to come to the help of all those in need, especially the poor, and the task of the Union is to fulfil this desire of his.
At the end, Fr Daniel thanked St Vincent, who had brought us together, all those present for participating in the joyful celebration of his birthday, the liturgical group, which included the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, for the beautiful animation of the Mass, and Fr Galucci for his presiding and inspiring homily. We parted wishing each other continued joyful celebration.
Text: Sr. Malgorzata Wyrodek, SAC
Photos: Luigi Boffa
