Mission in Italy 2005
I just came back to Rome last night from missioning in Pompeii. I went to the Church of Saint Peter apostle to share my testimony of faith with a very large congregation which gather there on Tuesdays. Mass was co-celebrated by three very anointed priest, among them, father Salvatore D'Outuomo the parish priest of the sanctuary of our Lady of Pompeii. The people of this parish of Saint Peter are blessed to have a priest, a good friend of father Salvatore, that have been through a transcendental renewal of faith in Medugorje, bringing so much life to the parish that new faces are found every week looking for the true water of the Lord Jesus.
Father Salvatore presiding the Eucharist, presented a vivid gospel through a homily that clearly transpire the life of a faithful servant that has been through the mill and back. It is a joy to be among true and faithful priest. Especially on a time and age where good and loyal to the sacred tradition priest and religious are so rare. The blessed Sacrament was exposed after mass and stay during my whole testimony of an hour and a halve. People breath thirst for God. It was a joy to give and give more and more insights of my mystical experience with a congregation which was no less than a true sponge that was only wanting more of God in every word that was said. There is no doubt in my heart that I was for a few hours in the company of a good share of the remnant of this area of the catholic world.
Father Salvatore was my welcoming priest to Pompeii. I met him in Medugorje during one of my missions there this last summer. We agreed on working together on a few conferences in his diocese, so it was a joy to begin this journey of missions with father in this area of Italy. He invited me the next day to share a day of prayer and took me to meet our lady of Pompeii in the basilica where he is the parish priest. A beautiful basilica, what a blessing for the church. Blessed Bartholomew Longo who founded this mission is a true treasure: see www.santuario.it
My conclusion to this mission in Pompeii will be: I was told that Pompeii is the host of great Roman ruins which I didn't visit. I'm sure that this particular historical site is the most interesting attraction for many, but I can say that after having a personal experience with Jesus and realizing how large are the treasures of our catholic faith. Life becomes much more than a historical site, than a tourist and pleasurable trip. Life all of a sudden takes a whole different meaning. It transforms itself into a joyful simple constant getting deeper into the ocean of an immeasurable God that doesn't seem to amaze us the more we thirst Him. He suffices, He fulfill us. He atracts us more that anything we ever hunger for. That is why the meaning of Pompeii to me was to meet Our Lady at the Basilica. To speak at Saint Peter's Church. To meet the people that are making it possible for the Mercy of God to stay close to all of the ones that aren't faithful yet: "The reparation crew". That is Pompei for me: Father Salvatore and all of the workshippers of the Blessed Sacrament. It is great to serve the Lord Jesus and to walk by the hand of Our Lady the Virgin Mary.
One of the other compliments of the trip was to be able to meet father Luis Alfredo from Colombia my native land. He is the parish priest of Saint Joseph church in San Cesareo and travel with me to Pompeii and was a great interpreter for the conference and a powerful prayer support. This coming Saturday I'll be in his church here in Rome, giving a talk after the evening mass. He went to school here in Rome and was ordained as a priest and remained for the last 20 years in this area.
There is one more person who is the motor behind all of my missions in Italy and Medugorje; Madre Rosaria on whom I'll be writing a whole profile, because her mission has to be presented properly and with time due to the gifts behind it.
I'll be back in Pompeii God willing, next summer. I received aid for the poor priest, like liturgical vestments and some utensils for the celebration of the mass. This aid goes toward my missions in South America.
Father Salvatore presiding the Eucharist, presented a vivid gospel through a homily that clearly transpire the life of a faithful servant that has been through the mill and back. It is a joy to be among true and faithful priest. Especially on a time and age where good and loyal to the sacred tradition priest and religious are so rare. The blessed Sacrament was exposed after mass and stay during my whole testimony of an hour and a halve. People breath thirst for God. It was a joy to give and give more and more insights of my mystical experience with a congregation which was no less than a true sponge that was only wanting more of God in every word that was said. There is no doubt in my heart that I was for a few hours in the company of a good share of the remnant of this area of the catholic world.
Father Salvatore was my welcoming priest to Pompeii. I met him in Medugorje during one of my missions there this last summer. We agreed on working together on a few conferences in his diocese, so it was a joy to begin this journey of missions with father in this area of Italy. He invited me the next day to share a day of prayer and took me to meet our lady of Pompeii in the basilica where he is the parish priest. A beautiful basilica, what a blessing for the church. Blessed Bartholomew Longo who founded this mission is a true treasure: see www.santuario.it
My conclusion to this mission in Pompeii will be: I was told that Pompeii is the host of great Roman ruins which I didn't visit. I'm sure that this particular historical site is the most interesting attraction for many, but I can say that after having a personal experience with Jesus and realizing how large are the treasures of our catholic faith. Life becomes much more than a historical site, than a tourist and pleasurable trip. Life all of a sudden takes a whole different meaning. It transforms itself into a joyful simple constant getting deeper into the ocean of an immeasurable God that doesn't seem to amaze us the more we thirst Him. He suffices, He fulfill us. He atracts us more that anything we ever hunger for. That is why the meaning of Pompeii to me was to meet Our Lady at the Basilica. To speak at Saint Peter's Church. To meet the people that are making it possible for the Mercy of God to stay close to all of the ones that aren't faithful yet: "The reparation crew". That is Pompei for me: Father Salvatore and all of the workshippers of the Blessed Sacrament. It is great to serve the Lord Jesus and to walk by the hand of Our Lady the Virgin Mary.
One of the other compliments of the trip was to be able to meet father Luis Alfredo from Colombia my native land. He is the parish priest of Saint Joseph church in San Cesareo and travel with me to Pompeii and was a great interpreter for the conference and a powerful prayer support. This coming Saturday I'll be in his church here in Rome, giving a talk after the evening mass. He went to school here in Rome and was ordained as a priest and remained for the last 20 years in this area.
There is one more person who is the motor behind all of my missions in Italy and Medugorje; Madre Rosaria on whom I'll be writing a whole profile, because her mission has to be presented properly and with time due to the gifts behind it.
I'll be back in Pompeii God willing, next summer. I received aid for the poor priest, like liturgical vestments and some utensils for the celebration of the mass. This aid goes toward my missions in South America.
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