Even when 13 November falls on a weekday, even if the temperature drops and invites one to stay indoors rather than go out into the streets, something nice always happens in Pozzaglia!
People come together to celebrate the liturgical feast of Saint Agostina!
This year was a special anniversary of Agostina: 130 years since her death!
In church, as always, beautiful flowers on the altar and in front of the urn containing her mortal remains. Beautiful hymns gladdened the hearts of those who had travelled many kilometres to reach Pozzaglia, this ‘eagle’s nest’ nestled in the midst of oak and beech woods.
Coincidentally, 13 November is World Kindness Day, and this year the Rome-based Cultural Association i Copimisti, in memory of the angelic figure of Saint Agostina Pietrantoni, decided to donate the Kindness Bench to Pozzaglia. It was a simple and meaningful ceremony at the same time: a panel, a small table with plaques, the Italian flag with the Association’s logo, pink balloons, and the bench covered with a beautiful green drape created the right atmosphere for what was to happen shortly thereafter.
The Mayor, Bruno Colio, the Servant Sister of the Pozzaglia community, sister Rita, and the parish priest, Father Marco, took the floor: in unison, they expressed sincere gratitude at seeing Pozzaglia chosen for this gift and hoped that it would be a sign capable of contributing to increasingly better relations within the community.
With a warm round of applause, the bench was unveiled, followed by the presentation of a beautiful plaque to the mayor, the parish priest, the Association of the Faithful of Saint Agostina and the Community of the Sisters of Charity. Sister Rita reciprocated by handing over a kit with brochures on Sainte Agostina to the members of the group.
After the ceremony in Pozzaglia’s central square, Holy Mass followed in the parish church. In his beautiful homily, Fr Marco recalled how the Patroness of the Nurses of Italy lived her last day: wearing a white apron, with a smile on her face, she ‘flew’ into the ward to carry out her service with love, with kindness, with patience and with care. The holiness of daily life: small actions that emanated the fragrance of charity.
At the end of the mass, in the communal hall, waiting for all the participants, on well-prepared tables abounded savoury morsels, sweets, drinks, sparkling wine to toast, etc. A moment of festive conviviality. Before leaving the village, the welcome guests were taken on a tour of St. Agostina’s birth house, where many objects belonging to her family of origin were collected.
Now the Kindness Bench is home to the many people who sit there every day to enjoy the last warmth of autumn and have a carefree chat. A big THANK YOU to the Copimists not only for the Bench, but also for all the good things they do for those in need. Providence passes through good-hearted men and women who know how to be attentive, generous, humble, silent and smiling sisters and brothers, as Saint Agostina teaches us.
Pozzaglia 16 November 2024
Sister Rita F.
