 31 Agosto 2021NEWSFLASH ANTIOCH: AUGUST 2021 by Glynn MacNiven
August 6th. Francesco from the Modena Missionary Centre comes to Monchio di Palagano, Fr Domenico’s home village, with 3 young people, Pietro, Francesca and Alessia, who record a long interview about the more than 50 years he has been in Turkey. August 7th. Fr Paolo Pugliese, Fr Adriano, and Fr Royston, an Indian and missionary candidate in Turkey, pay a visit Fr Domenico in his home village. August 10th. A group of young French people. led by two priests, come to celebrate in our Church. August 15th. 7 French pilgrims with one priest are staying in our Guest House . They only have one day left before leaving for Eastern Turkey. - Fr Gregory with some ladies from the Arsuz summer camp in the Gulf of Iskenderun visit our Church after having been at the celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption in the Armenian village of Vafikkoy, 30 km from Antioch. - The Feast of The Assumption is celebrated this evening in the church garden and at the end of the mass there is a small potluck party. There was a rosary novena in the evenings before the feast. August 19th Fr. Domenico returns after a month's vacation in Italy having travelled overnight, leaving Bologna on the evening of 18th and arriving in Antioch early the next morning at 4 a.m. I spent about ten days in the missionary centre of San Martino and the rest of the time in a mountain village in the Modena Apennines, in my parents' house with my brother Elio and next door to my cousin Maria who took on all the ‘logistical services’. I give heartfelt thanks to them as well as my confreres, Frs. Livio, Franco and Alemayehu and Fr. Matteo in charge of the missionary cooperation centres as well as to the various volunteers who assisted me at different times. These were very beautiful days with Mass preceded by the rosary every evening including the participation of a fair number of the faithful. On Sundays there were two masses that were always popular. It was a time of celebrations with St Vitale and S. Giulia in old oratories , ending on August 15th with the solemnity of the Assumption to which the parish church is dedicated. Also present was Fr Celestino, a dehonian father and long-time friend. Thanks to everyone for their closeness, esteem and generosity. Unfortunately, many old parishioners are now in the cemetery. August 22nd. Brothers Roshan (from Mersin) and Okan Abram, a Turkish theology student in Venice, come to Antioch. August 27. Fr Francis yesterday ended his service at the American base in Adana. For 7 weeks every Saturday has gone to replace the chaplain. It was over 400 km each time .. August 30th. Today in Turkey is the national holiday of the Armed Forces. There are several manifestations. At 18.30 the metropolitan mayor, Lutfu Savas holds a dinner and cocktails at the prefecture. Fr Francis and I are both invited, but he is unavailable so I go alone. Here is the photo with the prefect of Hatay, Rahmi Dogan, and the leaders of the Orthodox Church of Antioch and that of the Armenian Church in Vakifkoy. August 31. During the month, several visitors passed by our church: French, from Adana, Eastern Syriacs from Turkey, etc.
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