By Fr. Alfredo M. Tortorella

On 16 November the celebrations in honour of Our Lady of Health came to an end at the Camillian ‘Most Holy Mary of Pity’ Hospital in Casoria (Naples) as well, after five days of spirituality, thought and formation at the school of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is venerated in the Camillian world as Salus Infirmorum. The coordinators of these days were Brother Carlo Mangione – who is present in Casoria as provincial councillor with responsibility for administrative support for the hospital – and the chaplain, Father Vincenzo Ruggiero. These days of celebration witnessed the involvement of all those who live in the hospital or go to the chapel: patients, medical doctors, nurses, health-care workers, men and women religious, AVO volunteers, and others.

During the first three days of the triduum, Brother Carlo in the early morning met the various employees of the hospital for a moment of community reflection. In the afternoon there was the holy rosary on line radio and Holy Mass with vespers. On Saturday 15 November, in the morning, the most holy sacrament was shown for adoration and in the evening the new Camillian priest Fr. Alfredo M. Tortorella presided over the celebration of the Eucharist. On Sunday 16 November, the actual feast day, from the early morning onwards there was the prayer of the rosary with sung litanies, followed at 11.30 by the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Fr. Hubert Goudjinou who provides formation at the studentate of Rome. During this celebration the sacrament of the anointing of the sick was administered to the patients. Lastly, in the evening, there was a Holy Mass presided over by the Provincial, Fr. Rosario Mauriello, with a final torchlight procession in the churchyard of the hospital and the act of entrustment to Mary.

According to those who took part in the event, these were keenly ‘felt’ and necessary days: a real spiritual rebirth, a ‘dive’ through prayer into the true identity of this hospital institution which, in line with typical Camillian spirituality, has always sought to take care of suffering with maternal care and attention, attending to the body but also to the spirit! May Our Lady always guide the steps of the people in the hospital and its whole community!

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