102nd Anniversary of Don Michele Martorana with the Oratory dedicated to him and the Catholic Action groups of the Diocese of Agrigento

SAN GIOVANNI GEMINI – Together with the Archpriest Don Gianluca Arcuri, the Catholic Action of San Giovanni Gemini invited all the AC parish groups of the Diocese of Agrigento to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the birth in heaven of the Servant of God Don Michele Martorana figure historical center of the spiritual and social life of San Giovannese, but also of the diocese of Agrigento where he led Catholic Action in 1911, creating the first group in his San Giovanni Gemini. It all started during the Diocesan Assembly of AC held in February, during which the newly elected President of the San Giovannese Catholic Action Professor Irene Catarella launched the invitation for a community gathering of all the parish groups in San Giovanni Gemini to commemorate Don Michael in the Mother Church of San Giovanni Gemini on 21 April 2024, “Good Shepherd” Sunday. Everyone accepted with enthusiasm and were contacted personally by Catarella, nephew of Bishop Antonino Catarella and of the historic AC militants Deodata Chimento and Margherita Catarella, who organized the welcome together with her splendid and tireless group of Sangiovannese Catholic Action, people of of different ages animated by love for Christ and ready to share the gift of faith with joy and enthusiasm. The help of Don Gianluca’s mother, Mrs. Franca, a veteran of the AC, was fundamental.

Finally, amid trepidation and anticipation, the big day of the party has arrived. After the welcome around 9.30 with a warm and varied breakfast at the Oratory attached to the mother church, the groups were led into the hall where Don Michele’s great-grandson presented his personality and the actions he performed in life. Everyone was then guided by the members of the Sangiovannese AC to the Mother Church to view the tomb and the relic of Don Michele’s heart which was dug out in 1922 as his will to leave it to the young people to whom he had dedicated his life. A solemn celebration then took place presided over by the Archbishop of Agrigento Monsignor Alessandro Damiano, concelebrated with the Archpriest Don Gianluca Arcuri, the diocesan assistant of AC Don Carmelo La Magra, Don Nicola and Father Francesco Biondolillo, animated by the children and by the children of the Don Michele Martorana Oratory in the presence of Don Michele’s family, the newly elected diocesan President of AC Giovanni Gueli, the diocesan leaders of AC adults-young people-children and the very large representation of the parish Catholic Action groups of the Diocese. Among the Catholic Action Groups that participated: Lampedusa, Licata Parish Mother Church, Licata Parish San Domenico, Licata Parish San Giuseppe Maria Tomasi, Naro, Porto Empedocle Parish Mother Church, Porto Empedocle Parish Madonna del Carmelo, Agrigento Parish of San Michele – Badiola, Agrigento Parish of Madonna del Carmelo – Fatima, Agrigento San Gregorio, Agrigento San Francesco (Immaculate), Canicattì Parish of San Pancrazio (Matrice), Canicattì Parish of San Diego, Racalmuto, Aragona, Bivona, Casteltermini and Cammarata. President Irene Catarella, on behalf of the CA and the Ecclesial Community of San Giovannese, delivered some souvenir plaques, some scrolls with the poetry of the young Roberta Lupo, who had just joined the CA of San Giovanni Gemini together with the youngest Elena Narcisi, and an image of Jesus the Nazarene made by the boys of the Ark, to Archbishop Damiano, to Giovanni Gueli who made his first official speech as diocesan President, to the diocesan Assistant Don Carmelo and to the Mayor of San Giovanni Gemini. President Gueli and Mayor Zimbardo conveyed their greetings to all those present, including the Commander of the Carabinieri and the Commander of the Traffic Police, while Don Gianluca welcomed everyone and Archbishop Damiano declared himself happy with the diocesan gathering of AC, of ​​the presence of the children and young people of the oratory and of the whole community on the occasion of the commemoration of a “good shepherd” like Don Michele. After the mass, a moment of conviviality experienced in the oratory premises concluded with smiles and friendship this intense moment of communion of all those present who were “weavers of hope” with Don Michele Martorana and Archbishop Damiano.