For the Padua subsection of Unitalsi (Italian national union for transporting the sick to Lourdes and international sanctuaries), the annual appointment with the regional pilgrimage to Lourdes scheduled for June 2024In this 2024, in fact, Unitalsi Padova celebrates and celebrates 90 years of life and activity (1934-2024); 90 years in which stretcher bearers and sisters of Unitalsi Padua have become “travel friends” for the sick and suffering.
Travel friends it is also the common thread of the 2024 events which celebrate the ninetieth year of activity. An opportunity to remember, thank and relaunch a strong appeal to those who feel in their hearts the call to a service of closeness, accompaniment and care for the sick on these journeys of faith, hope, thanksgiving and comfort.
The “journey” par excellence of the Unitalsians, recalls the president of the Padua subsection Giliola Seccois undoubtedly the one with destination Lourdes: «Pilgrimages to Lourdes represent a special and authentic form of our journeys, because more than elsewhere we give space to our charism, which is to take each other by the hand and become “travel companions”, a safe and free presence, hands and feet that help , attentive and warm sensitivity towards those who find themselves experiencing illness and fragility. The journey – and in particular to Lourdes – becomes a great life experience, a sharing of feelings and emotions, a great journey of communion that brings together suffering and joy.”
This year the regional pilgrimage to Lourdes is scheduled for June, from 2nd to 8th by traindeparting from Padua and from 3 to 7 June by plane, departing from Verona. For the Paduan group the pilgrimage will also see the presence of bishop, mons. Claudio Cipolla, who will participate in the moments of prayer and meetings scheduled in the context of the international Marian sanctuary on 4-6 June. The pilgrimage to Lourdes has fixed events which are the opening mass of the pilgrimage near the cave of Saint Bernadette, the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation, the prayer of praise and the rosary, the evening procession in the Esplande (procession aux Flambeaux) , the pilgrim masses, the procession and Eucharistic adoration, the passage to the grotto, the Via Crucis, the moment of celebration and meeting and the final celebration of goodbye.
To participate it is still possible to register as participants, patients or volunteers for which special discounts are also available. For information and registration you can contact the Unitalsi Padova secretariat which is open to the public in via del Vescovado 29 – c/o Casa Pio in Padua from Tuesday to Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 and at other times by appointment, by calling 049 8771745. Or you can consult the website www.unitalsipadova.it Registrations close on Monday 13 May 2024.
Source: Press Office of the Diocese of Padua
