One hundred years ago, on 4 April 1926, the Temple of the Evangelical Rogation in Via Santa Cecilia was blessed, a place of worship, but above all a space of charity, welcome and inclusion. A special anniversary for the religious family of Saint Hannibal Mary of France, who was responsible for the construction of the Sanctuary (the laying of the first stone took place on 3 April 1921).
For the occasion, the director of the community, Father Giorgio Nalin, and the rector of the basilica, Father Mario Magro, shared the message of the superior general of the Rogationists, Bruno Rampazzo: “Dear brothers, today with our minds and hearts we return home, to Messina, where on Easter Sunday 4 April 1926, 100 years ago, Father Vitale blessed the Temple of the evangelical rogation. Father Annibale, due to his health unsteady, he was not present; we can imagine his internal suffering due to this forced absence. On the third Sunday of Easter, after 21 days, he was able to witness the blessing of the bells of the new temple, Monsignor Angelo Paino, who presided over the celebration, addressed to Father Annibale with these words: «Live as long as your bells; you will no longer be, Messina, seeing your children, remember your virtues and your heart”. On the following 13 June, the feast of St. Anthony, the founding father Annibale of France celebrated the last mass at the altar of the temple in honor of the great patron. We Rogationists, our fellow Daughters of Divine Zeal and the Rogate family together with the citizens of Messina want to raise a hymn of thanks for having created this splendid place of prayer in the city of the Strait. to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest. In this temple, elevated to the dignity of a minor basilica on 4 April 2006, many men and women of good will, saints (and among them Saint John Paul II), have prayed, entrusting their lives, families and communities to the Lord. While we are preparing for the celebrations of the centenary of the birth in heaven of St. Hannibal, I ask you to pray together because this is the centenary of the blessing of the temple of the Evangelical Rogation of Messina, ours. Cathedral, become an important stage in the spiritual renewal of our congregation.”