Urago d’Oglio – Brescia, August 17th, 2022. On the occasion of the 135th birthday of Blessed Charles of Austria, a group of Knights of the delegation of Lombardy, led by Mr. Maurizio Mirandola, attended a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the parish of Urago d’Oglio. Father Arnaldo Morandi, Prior of the delegation, presided over the solemn liturgy.
Bangkok, 16 August 2022 – The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, has organized a screening of the 70-minutes documentary “ME AND THE MAGIC DOOR: discovering Italian Architecture in Bangkok” at the very prestigious “The Siam Society Auditorium”. A non-profit cultural project initiated by The Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, this documentary aims at showcasing the best of Italian cultural legacy in Thailand through the works of Italian architects, artists, and designers. This documentary also serves a symbolic representation of knowledge and collaboration in the area of arts and culture in the long standing relations between the two countries. A panel discussion featuring Ambassador Lorenzo Galanti, Madame Francesca Andreini, Mister Marco Gatti, Professor Neungreudee Lohapon and Professor Paolo Piazzardi took take place after the screening, as well as an elegant reception. The film, presented by Mrs. Bilaibhan Sampatisiri (President of the Society) and art lover Dr. Tom Vitayakul, is exquisitely centered on the beauty of a few landscape features in Bangkok realized by highly revered architects such as Carlo Tamagno and Mauro Allegri; it is receiving an enthusiastic feedback so much so the public always enquires about a sequel. It also touches themes such as father-daughter relation, self discovery, cultural diversity and decadence, providing a well balanced fiction versus realistic vision.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 11 August 2022 – Four years after the opening of the Majcen Center – Bistro, Restaurant and Vocation Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City, ‘Don Bosco Bakery – Cafe’ has been inaugurated a while ago, located in one of the central districts of HCM City (Saigon), just near the British International School, where many expatriates live. Four Salesians are assigned to this new pilot project (two Salesian Brothers and two Salesian Priests), who are still members of the large Ben Cat Community (Rector Fr Peter Hoang), but fully involved in Majcen Training Centre. The new Don Bosco Bakery – Cafe offers to the young people in Vietnam not only to learn bread and sweet-making skills but also to become acquainted in management and marketing. From the idea stage the whole project has been accompanied by many Vietnamese and foreign experts, also the presence of two volunteer staff – a chef and training staff enhance the quality of training. Also this new outreach is a fruit of the cooperation among Salesians and expatriate volunteers helping the Majcen Bistro – Training Center. The Vice Delegate has visited the Center and has wished and contributed so that the new Don Bosco enterprise will help many young people in Vietnam with their integral preparation for life and also that the Salesians will learn how to grow in self-sustainability.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 12 August 2022 – The Vice Delegate, on a short mission in Vietnam, has also paid a visit to Nhà Thò Tân Định Roman Catholic church: its formal name is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Located in District 3, HCM City, it was built during the French colonial period in the 1870s and completed on 16 December 1876, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. The architecture is mainly neo-Romanesque, but it also has some neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance elements. It has been painted pastel-pink both on the exterior and interior since 1957, earning it the nickname “the pink church”.
It is the second-largest church in Ho Chi Minh City, after Notre-Dame Basilica in District 1. They both belong to the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City. The Vice Delegate had a nice encounter with Rev. Father Nguyén Quôc Hûng who rejoiced himself much of this visit and presented a beautifully crafted souvenir.
August 13th 2022 – Avenza (MS). At the conclusion of the solemn celebration for the 400th anniversary of the Vows that the city of Pontremoli made to Our Lady of People, the Massa Carrara-Pontremoli Diocese organized a night Pilgrimage of the venerate effigy in the Parishes along the Via Francigena. The Pilgrimage, with the statue of Our Lady, was leaded by Diocesan Bishop Monsignor Fra’ Mario Maccari. The Saint Peter the Apostle Parish, settled in Avenza, invited a representative of the Delagation of Tuscany, that partecipated together with the spokesman Knight of Merit Angelo Ragnoni, and Knights of Merit Antonio Pilichi, Giampaolo Caterino and Gaetano Castello. In addition to the Priest Father Marino, Volterra’s Emeritous Bishop, also Monsignor Alberto Silvani, and our Knight of Grace, Father Emanuele Borserini, who actively collaborated in the preparation of the solemn celebration, were present at the event.
On July 26th, the Municipality of Savignano Irpino (Avellino) invited the Constantinian Order to participate in the celebrations in honour of the local Patron, St. Anna.
The delegation of Campania was delighted to receive the Mayor’s invitation this year as well.
We thank Dr. Luigi de Angelis who was in charge of promoting the initiative, where many Knights belonging to the delegation participated.
