A party on the party, the one that has been held in recent days in S. Giorgio Morgeto, the splendid medieval village that dominates the plain of Gioia Tauro da S. Elia at Capo Vaticano.
The event took place on the occasion of the feast of S. Giacomo Apostolo, compatrous of the Pianigiano village, where the community of the parish of S. Maria Assunta lined up by Don Antonello Sorrentino and that of St. Giorgio Martire, better known as Extra, lined up by Don Michele D’Agostino, signed at the hands of the two parish priests the solemn act of twinning.
Ideally, a pact between the two communities signed in front of two exceptional notaries: the compatrons San Giacomo Apostolo and S. Giorgio Martire, whose majestic statues, before being brought in procession through the streets of the town, were exposed to the sides of the altar.
In a church full of places, in the presence of the mayor dr. Salvatore Valerioti and the commander of the Carabinieri station Mar.ca. Roberto Caruso, also subscribers of the document together with the witnesses of the two communities Gino Spanò and Salvatore Silivestro, in a festive and joy climate, is signed the twinning between the two parishes.
During the liturgical concelebration officiated by Don D’Agostino, also present Don Jerome Pascal Ombeni and the Laureana of Borrello, the Sangiorgese Don Domenico Cacciatore, Don Sorrentino, in greeting and welcoming the Folta represents Reggina, underlined the concrete value represented by the twinning between the two communities, declaring, among other things.
Today is a day of particular joy and meaning for our parish community. With a soul full of gratitude we celebrate the feast of our beloved compatrono, San Giacomo Apostolo, but we also live a historical moment for our parish: the twinning with the parish community of San Giorgio Extra of Reggio Calabria.
Not a simple formal event, but a real real sign of Christian communion and brotherhood. It is the living manifestation of a faith that unites us, of shared values and of a sincere commitment to walk together like a single people towards Christ the unique and true shepherd. In an era often marked by divisions and individualisms, we choose the path of unity, collaboration and communion with courage and determination. To unite even more profoundly is the common devotion to San Giorgio Martire, our patron and model of unshakable faith. San Gregorio Magno reminds us that “faith is the fortress that resists any difficulty”: it is this same strength that inspires us to build lasting bonds among our communities.
A special and heartfelt thanks goes to Don Michele D’Agostino, parish priest of San Giorgio Extra, who today presides over this solemn Eucharistic concelebration ……. this moment does not only unite the priesthood, but a fraternal and missionary bond between our communities, a pact of communion that will be officially sanctioned at the end of this celebration. Thanks also to all the large representation of your community present here: your participation is a precious gift that spurs us to look with hope and determination to the path that awaits us. Together, guided by the Holy Spirit, we will know how to design and live moments of growth, service and testimony that will make our Church, beloved bride of Christ more and more. As San Cipriano said: “He cannot have God for Father who does not have the Church for Mother”. With this strong awareness, we relaunch our commitment to live faith with passion, courage and fraternal love to build a stronger, lively and united community together.
He then concluded saying: dear brothers and sisters, today’s day gives us a clear and powerful message: the unit is possible. Shared faith generates beauty, generates life, hope.
The intervention of the mayor Valerioti who, after thanking the inspirer of the day, the Sangiorgese Salvatore Silivestro and Don Antonello for the invitation, said: Welcome Don Michele and welcome and a dear greeting to the whole parish community of San Giorgio Extra, today we have sanctioned the twinning between our community and that of S. Giorgio Extra of Reggio Calabria, and with this spirit of collaboration and exchange, is welcome. solidarity. This will involve a common path of growth that we are happy to share as an institution in the certainty that, with mutual commitment, will be transformed into a relationship of knowledge and mutual growth, through lasting links over time, also through cultural projects and exchanges, the sharing of experiences and the spiritual and pastoral growth of the community concerned. It is important that this happens on a particular day like this that during the celebrations of our compatrons San Giacomo Apostolo and San Giorgio Martire.
During the homily, in relation to today’s appointment, Don D’Agostino, after thanking Don Sorrentino, the community and the mayor of S. Giorgio, began his intervention by recalling a well -known African proverb …… “Whoever wants something serious finds it, the others an excuse”. He then continued, among other things, citing a famous phrase of Don Tonino Bello, bishop of Molfetta: “Those who do not live to serve, do not need to live”, and then enter more specifically in the meaning of the day that sanctioned the twinning between the two parish communities. The twinning that we stipulate between our communities today continued, for which I thank you from heart Don Antonello and each of you for your enthusiasm and availability, tells us the desire to live with this evangelical style of those who fight and walk to experience love, because only this allows us to have a broad horizon …. not to be satisfied and locked up in our small vegetable garden. Last Sunday we saw in the liturgy of the word as God passes through the guest …. the one I welcome that instead I often see as a threat, suspicion … then our unite expresses the desire to help us mutually with prayer, friendship and gestures that will come to participate in the dream of God who tells us in Jesus “are one” … Because you only save ourselves together…. On your own you get lost.
Before the end of the Holy Mass, the two parish priests, the mayor, the commander of the CC station. And the two witnesses, in front of the assembly, proceeded to subscribe to the solemn act of twinning in triplicate, for the two parishes and for the diocesan archive.
A joyful procession of the two compatrons through the streets of the town has followed, and then stopped near the Piazza dei Morgeti for the usual fireworks.
The party ended at a well -known restaurant in the town with the classic cut of the cake, garnished with the image of the facades of the two churches, by the two parish priests who, even with this symbolic gesture, wanted to ratify the communion between the two parishes.