Month of Mary Mission
Italian priest, Fr. Luigi Ramazzotti, head minister of the parish of the Filipino community in Venice, and some members of the Filipino church choir recently visited the municipality of CavallinoTreporti for “the mission”. This mission, began in December 2009, is Father Luigi’s on-going calling to bring together Filipinos and let them know that the parish of the Filipino comunity is there for them.
About seven families in Cavallino gathered on the 29th of May to welcome father Luigi’s third visit in this part of Venice. The priest held the mass at the living room of the Macalele family. Joel and Lorna Macalele, originally from Laguna, offered their humble abode for the venue of this year’s mission and took pains for the preparations.
In his sermon, the minister addressed the young people. He advised them to choose their “idols” wisely and admire someone who can truly be a good influence in their young lives. The fighting congressman of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao, is one very good example, said Fr. Luigi.
Just right before the eucharistic prayer, like he had always done, Fr. Luigi gathered the children, embraced them with bread and chalice in hand and recited the prayers. This heartwarming gesture from the minister endears him to the Filipinos.
During the communion, a four-year old boy cut the communion line to get ahead. Then he held out his hands and looked up to the priest, waiting for one of those small round things to land on his hands. The poor little boy stood there like a hungry puppy until his mom took her away. Fr Luigi, with a wide grin, caressed the little boy’s head.
When the mass ended, Fr. Luigi said grace over the table filled with food. The Sunday lunch was mainly prepared by Lorna Macalele, even as the other families who also brought food.
Everyone sang happy birthday in Italian and English and the celebrant blew out his candles on a cake that was amazingly made that morning. This was truly a special day for the Filipino families of Cavallino and for Fr. Luigi, who marked his 49th birthday on May 28.
“We are always blessed and grateful for this mission,” said one mother. She added that attending Sunday mass in someone’s home is out of the ordinary, and hearing mass in Filipino and English really feels different.
“I’m like closer to home and to God,” she admitted.
