by Cristian Fiorentino – It was celebrated at the parish “Santa Maria Ad Nives” in Schiavonea di Corigliano, last Sunday 12 May, the anniversary of the subsection “Italian National Union for Transport of the Sick Lourdes International Sanctuaries” of Corigliano-Rossano. On the occasion of its first twenty-five years of life, Unitalsi jonica has planned an ad hoc day divided into different moments and shared by two hundred participants. It should be remembered that the primary activity of this lively national association, with many regional and district offices, is the transport of the sick and the organization of pilgrimages to Lourdes to the places where the Madonna appeared to Bernadette. Unitalsi’s main and vital resource, also in Corigliano and Rossano, are the volunteers who give of themselves free of charge and benevolently towards the sick, lonely elderly people and children with problems. Embracing this “Unitalsian” philosophy, on 12 February 1990, the Corigliano subsection was born thanks to the idea and will of Carmela Gaccione, Battista Berardi, Franco Cosenza, Aurora Bruno and Concetta Curatolo. Resolutions that soon welcomed several active souls within the association dedicated to serving the most needy such as disabled children. The history of the Coriglianese subsection saw C. Gaccione herself, for the first five years, diocesan commissioner, and after having set up the operational structure, remaining in office for ten years as president. Donatella De Novellis and Rosanna Sinfonico, currently in office, subsequently took over the same position.
Over time, the same subz. Unitalsi has become a consolidated reality and point of reference for many families of children and young people with disabilities. A palpable indication also emerged last Sunday in the presence of the President Unitalsi Calabria Vincenzo Trapani Lombardo, accompanied by the vice pres. Gaetano Greco, who praised the work of the same subsection. In fact, the presidents and councils of the other regional subsections were invited and welcomed in front of the churchyard of the seaside village. From there a short procession started with the various banners and the statue of the Madonnina of the sub. Coriglianese who sees a pebble from the Lourdes cave placed at his feet, donated at the time to F. Cosenza himself for some time steger in the holy town of the Pyrenees. Also displayed on the altar are various representative symbols: firstly a clod of grass precisely to remember the Madonna’s message to Bernadette to dig and eat the bitter grass as a sign of penance and, in the same point, where the water was later discovered; the hooves of the Saint symbol of the journey; the Holy Water of Lourdes; the candle to be carried in procession and the basket with the uniforms of the ladies and stretcher bearers. Following the Eucharistic Celebration officiated by the Archbishop of the diocese of Rossano-Cariati Monsignor Maurizio Aloise who concelebrated together with the spiritual director of the subsection Don Agostino Stasi, the parish priest Father Francesco Ansalone and Father Vincenzo Tristaino.
