The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Fr José Maria Sabé, Economer of the Salesian community at Colle Don Bosco. Concelebrating with him were the Rector, Fr Thathireddy Vijaya Bhaskar; the diocesan Vicar of the Mamma Margherita Pastoral Unity made up of the communities of Capriglio, Montafia, Viale and Cortazzone, Fr Domenico Valsania; and the assistant parish priest, Fr Francis Thomas Kunnathoor. The celebration was enlivened by the Mamma Margherita choir from Capriglio.
In the homily Fr Sabé sought to emphasise Mamma Margaret’s hidden mission in the humility and concealment of her kitchen as a mother, until the end. An ever-present lesson, to carry forward, day by day: holiness in ordinary work, in small things done with love and joy. Finally, commenting on the Gospel passage of the day (Mt 25,31-46), he imagined the hypothetical dialogue between the Son of Man and Mother Margaret in the final judgement at the end of her life,where Jesus tells her: “I had my pants torn and you repaired them; I arrived one night all wet and cold and you welcomed me; I did not know where to go and you opened the door and made me that bed in the kitchen with two bricks, four planks, some hay and a blanket and I slept at home; I was discouraged many times and came to the kitchen and you gave me hope, joy and a little love. Without a doubt, Mamma Margaret received this judgement in recognition of the love given to those children at Valdocco. Love is never given unnecessarily.”
The President of the Friends of the Mamma Margherita Museum Association, Diego Occhiena, with reference to the recent third Seminar for the promotion of Salesian Causes, sought to recall a highlight of the final recommendations of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians: “Also in this Seminar it is good to see the numerous presence of lay people, the laity provide the humus for the growth of the faith. Likewise, the lay witnesses of Salesian holiness. Among them all I would like to recall the fundamental testimony of Mamma Margaret, so dear to our entire Salesian Family. I entrust to all of you the task of praying every Saturday for Mamma Margaret’s Cause.”
Finally, those present were entrusted with the prayer for the Beatification and Canonisation of the Venerable Margaret Occhiena, in new graphical form thanks to the work of Shirlene Crasto, a freelance graphic designer from the University of Goa, India.
