Modica – On Sunday evening the city of Modica will finally be able to regain possession of the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie.
Mayor Maria Monisteri made this known by declaring in a short and concise statement that “On Sunday 12 May, at 8.00 pm, we will inaugurate the ‘new’ Churchyard of the Madonna delle Grazie”
“An important moment– continues the mayor – awaited by the community that celebrates the days of the festival dedicated to the ‘Mother of Modica’, by the city and by those who live in this beautiful part of Modica. Another piece of that mosaic that we are creating so that Modica is increasingly citizen-friendly and increasingly beautiful to see and to show to those who come to visit us”
This brings to an end the controversies, at least hopefully, that have concerned these works in recent months.
In fact, we remember that the residents and the parish priest himself, Don Stefano Modica, had strongly criticized the redevelopment project of the churchyard which had effectively eliminated the parking spaces, making it impossible to go to the Sanctuary. And in fact not only were the celebrations often deserted but neither weddings nor funerals were celebrated anymore.
Now we need to understand if the new works that have been carried out in recent months to try to remedy the error (if you try again you will be luckier) after numerous questions from PD councilor Giovanni Spadaro which obviously remained unanswered, will guarantee a better accessibility to the Sanctuary and above all, if as expected, new parking areas have been created. The latter in particular had been identified, a first part in the area overlooking the Palazzo dei Mercedari, and a second part, after the commercial establishments, by digging into the rock at the beginning of the descent that runs alongside Monserrato, an area entrusted to the forestry.
The discontent in the city over this planning and construction of the churchyard is evident and has not been digested by the faithful who frequent the Sanctuary. Now there will be a litmus test and the occasion will be the Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie. Let’s hope that the curses stay low to the ground and don’t take to the sky.
In the meantime, we are waiting to see whether the new design of the churchyard will be capable of allowing respect for tradition.
With all the flowerbeds that have been built, it will be difficult not to step on them and also to maneuver the simulacrum. But they should have thought about it first. There’s no point in crying over spilled milk.
