Mother Elvira’s Birthday 2011

On Saturday, the 22nd of January 2011, we celebrated together at the sports complex of Fossano Mother Elvira’s Birthday.  When she arrived she greeted us saying: „ I am happy for the gift of life and feel the desire to have it grow and expand beyond all limits“ and she invited us to greet one another saying: "I am glad that you exist!“
Afterwards, we prayed the rosary and celebrated Holy Mass that was co-celebrated  by Monsegnor Andrew, an African priest that we met in Liberia in the recent visits to this country and has been recently nominated Bishop.  In the homily, Father Stefano reminded us that the true richness of the life of Mother Elvira lies in her great faith and her trust in Divine Providence that was an important value in the community when it was founded and is now one of the pillars that sustains it.  She always trusted providence and asked the Lord, „Provide for your children and show them that You are their father.“  In the first few years of hardships and sacrifice, when the house was still in shambles: not much to eat or the utensils to eat with or beds to sleep in...In this way, the Lord set down the foundation that we do not see with our own eyes but that in reality sustains the Community.  In the small refectory of Saluzzo, Mother Elvira spoke to the men about Providence and desribed it like ...“a beautiful lady that wakes up one hour before and goes to sleep one hour later than the last person that falls asleep within her arms.“  Think of all the miracles, how many occasions, through how many people God has shown us his love everyday multiplied by twenty-seven years!  In the first years of Community everyone memorized the hymn of providence, the part of the Gospel that reminds us that life is more important thatn what you eat, that your body is worth more than the clothes that you wear.  What makes life worthwhile is a smile, an attentive eye, a gesture of love!
The Afternoon passed simply, from various songs and skits prepared by the men and women, families, priests and nuns and the faithful friends of our Community tuned in to the theme of Providence. And to top the celebration the friends of the Community prepared a cake in the shape of Africa.
Monday and Tuesday where spent among the men and women in Community to present their gifts prepared for Mother Elvira and the different community houses with other songs and skits.  There was also the drawing for the different saint „patrons“ for every fraternity: every saint was transferred to another house to bring their protection and aid: there faithful friendship that all point to Jesus.
We have passed these days with joy and gratefulness.  Elvira’s Birthday has been an occasion to come together and thank the Lord for the gift of life: with the Lord,  one life can generate so much more life.  The fertility of faith that the Mother ofGod has given to us teaches us on a daily basis the value and greatness of love in our poor but immense lives.

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