Home of the Mother

From June 13th-19th, the Sisters in Lumezzane organized a camp for girls in the parish. The campsite was in Villa di Lozio, a beautiful location in the mountains of Valcamonica, one of the main valleys here in Brescia. 15 girls took part in the camp, all of them between the ages of 10 and 13. Almost all of them were from our parish of Saint Apollonio, although there were a few from other parishes. We were accompanied by our best assistant ever, Antonella, who is always a great help with any activity we organize and the girls all love her.

In June, the Sisters in Chone and several members of the Home in Ecuador went on a pilgrimage to two Marian shrines. We thought of the pilgrimage as a way of thanking Our Mother for the Approval of the Home. So, we chose two Marian shrines: “La Virgen de Agua Santa” in Baños (Ecuador) and “La Virgen de Las Lajas” in Ipiales (Colombia).

We left on June 19 at 12 midnight from Chone. We went in 2 buses, one with boys and adults and the other with girls. We reached Baños around 9am, ate breakfast in a park, and went to Mass at the shrine. Later on, we looked around the shrine. From there, we went to visit 2 waterfalls. The area is known for its waterfalls. And finally, we went to a look-out point where we could see the Tumburagua volcano, which is currently active.

The Home of the Mother of All Mankind Mother of the Youth, has been officially approved by the Church. On June 21st, at 11:00, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, presented the Home with the decree of approval as an International Public Association of the Faithful. The official ceremony was held at the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome.

The celebration of the approval of the Home began with a Holy Hour on Sunday, June 20^th, led by Fr. Felix Lopez, General Superior of the Servant Brothers of the Home of the Mother in the Church of San Girolamo della Caritá. Afterwards, Cardinal Julián Herranz, President of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia, celebrated the Holy Mass for the Home. On the 21^st, the Holy Mass was celebrated by His Excellency the Most Reverend Mauro Piacenza, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Church of San Girolamo della Caritá.

On the 22nd of June, Fr. Rafael Alonso Reymundo, Founder of the Home of the Mother, celebrated a Mass in thanksgiving at 8:00 in the Crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

On the 23rd of June at 10:30, the Home of the Mother was present in the General Audience with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square. At 18:00, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacramentes, celebrated Mass in St. Maria della Scala.

Members of the Home from all over the world have gathered together to celebrate the approval and to give thanks to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother for their infinite mercy.