Italy – Masses from Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart: below, calendar of events

20 January 2022
Italy – Masses from Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart: below, calendar of events

(ANS - Rome) - As the two major Salesian feasts of January draw near - St. Francis de Sales, on January 24, even more solemn this year on the 400th anniversary of the saint's death, and St. John Bosco, on January 31 - the initiative of daily Masses broadcast live on TV from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome comes into its own. For several days now, in fact, some members of the General Council have been presiding over the celebrations; and in the last week of the month, there will be none other than the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and his Vicar, Fr Stefano Martoglio.

Taking advantage of the presence in Rome of all the members of the General Council, gathered for their winter plenary session, the coordinators of the initiative were able to draw up a much varied and authoritative calendar of Salesians called to preside at Eucharist.

Fr Miguel Angel García, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, and Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councilor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, were among the first to celebrate the Masses broadcast on TV, already during the week of January 10-16. This week (January 17-23), the faithful connecting from home had the opportunity to get to know and appreciate Fr Pierfausto Frisoli, Procurator General of the Congregation, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councilor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation, and Fr Gabriel Héctor Romero, Councilor for the America South Cone Region.

Looking ahead to the end of the month, the climax of Salesian January, this is the planned calendar:

Sunday, January 23:

7 a.m. - Fr Alfred Maravilla, General Counsel for Missions

8:30 a.m. - Fr Mauro Mantovani, Rector Emeritus of UPS

10 a.m. - Fr Guido Novella, parish priest of the Basilica

7 p.m. - Fr Andrea Bozzolo, Rector Magnificent of UPS

Monday, January 24 (St. Francis de Sales):

7 a.m. - Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Silvio Roggia, of the Formation Sector

7:00 p.m. - Fr Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector

Tuesday, January 25

7 a.m. - Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Silvio Roggia, of the Formation Sector

7 p.m. – Fr Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector

Wednesday, January 26th

7 a.m. - Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Silvio Roggia, of the Formation Sector

7 p.m. - Fr Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector

Thursday, January 27th

7 a.m. - Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Guido Novella, pastor of the Basilica

7 p.m. - Fr Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector

Friday, January 28th

7 a.m. - Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Guido Novella, pastor of the Basilica

10 a.m. - Fr Francisco Santos, of the Formation Sector

Saturday, January 29

7 a.m. – Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Guido Novella, parish priest of the Basilica

10 a.m. – Fr Stefano Vanoli, Secretary of the General Council

Sunday, January 30

7 a.m. – Fr Guido Novella, parish priest of the Basilica

8:30 a.m. - Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, Rector Major Emeritus

10 a.m. – Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major

7 p.m. - Fr Stefano Aspettati, Superior of the Salesian Circumscription Central Italy (ICC)

Monday, January 31 (Saint John Bosco)

7 a.m. - Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major

8:30 a.m. - Fr Francesco Marcoccio, ICC Vicar

7 p.m. – Fr Guido Novella, parish priest of the Basilica

Thanks to their TV broadcast - according to data collected by the same broadcasters - the liturgies offered by the basilica reach an average of 380,000 faithful every day:

- At the weekday Eucharist at 7 a.m. (TV2000): 380,000 faithful;

- At the weekday Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. (TV2000): 400,000 faithful;

- At the weekday Eucharist at 7 p.m. (TV2000): 355,000 faithful;

- At the Sunday Eucharist at 10 a.m. (Channel 5): 1.2 million faithful.

While the initiative is still underway, Fr Novella, parish priest of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, commented to ANS: “I continue to receive, directly and through email, messages of appreciation for the celebrations, of which the variety of reflections is praised, sometimes more theological, sometimes pastoral, sometimes evocative...; and also the quality of the animation, the participation of the various parish groups and of the Salesian Family, and, obviously, the artistic beauty of the church.”

“This initiative,” concludes Fr Novella, “is a unique opportunity to transmit, even without having to explicitly talk about Don Bosco, the richness of our spirituality, which passes however through our words, gestures, style...”

To learn more about the Basilica and its parish community, please visit the website: https://www.basilicadelsacrocuore.it 

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