The Semi-OCD Province of Naples concluded festivities for the 150th anniversary of the birth of St. Therese with a solemn celebration. Fr. Luigi Gaetani presided and was accompanied by the Bari OCD community and our students in formation. The themes for the homily reflection were trust and ‘the little way’ as outlined in the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis “C’est la confiance”.
During 2023 the Bari community organized a special programme of studies and reflection on the life and writings of the Saint of Abandonment. This included a Spirituality Week on the theme “A completely new Little Way” with conferences by Frs. Luigi Gaetani and Pablo Rodriguez’. There were also special “a shower of roses” evenings with processions through the streets of the parish (Therese is the co-Patron of the parish). A Reliquiary was prepared and this provided the opportunity of bringing the relics of the Saint to some surrounding communities. A pilgrimage was also made to the Discalced Carmelite Monastery of Gallipoli . It was here that St. Therese appeared in 1910 to Mother Carmela, giving her a sum of money and confirming how she had lived her life and taught her sisters: “My life is secure and I am not mistaken”.
