From Saturday 3 May until 8 June the heart of St. Camillus will be on a pilgrimage in the diocese of Chieti. This is an initiative strongly wished for both by the diocese of Chieti-Vasto (led by Archbishop Monsignor Bruno Forte) and by the General Consulta of the Camillians.

This pilgrimage – which forms a part of the celebrations for the fourth centenary of the death of St. Camillus – involves the pastoral areas of Atessa, Vasto, Guardiagrele, Chieti and Chieti Scalo.

Last Saturday the relic was welcomed by a large number of faithful in the pastoral area of Atessa where it will stay until 9 May. From there it will go to the pastoral area of Vasto where celebrations are envisaged from 10 to 15 May. Then, from 18 to 25 May, it will go to Guardiagrele and from 20 to 31 May the relic will be in the pastoral areas of Chieti and Chieti Scalo. Lastly, from 1 to 8 June it will be at the St. Camillus Sanctuary of Bucchianico.

A moment of great spirituality will be experienced on 31 May when in the afternoon a pilgrimage will take place on foot as far as Casalbordino. This will end with a solemn Holy Mass presided over by Monsignor Bruno Forte.

In these celebrations, in all these towns, will participate Camillian men and women religious, ready to spread the message of charity of their founder St. Camillus. From time to time the participation of diocesan groups and groups representing Unitalsi, the scouts and Renewal in the Holy Spirit, as well as health-care workers and hospital volunteers, is envisaged.

The relic of St. Camillus draws its meaning from the heart of Christ, the source and model of divine love.

Placed in a box of crystal, it is usually kept in the generalate house of the Camillians in Rome in the room (Cubiculum) where St. Camillus died on 14 July 1640.

During this jubilee year the relic is on a pilgrimage to the dioceses of Italy: a propitious opportunity to draw upon the spirituality of this saint, whose legacy is still of great contemporary relevance nowadays.

Read here the complete programme of the pilgrimage

Read here the press information