FDP. Montalban: Don Orione enthroned in glory on the facade of the St. Luigi Orione Chapel.

Our Religious family rejoice today, May 16, 2018 for the 14^th Anniversary of the Canonization of our Founder, St. Luigi Orione. It is feast day for the whole Congregation of the Little Work of Divine Providence which includes the Sons of Divine Providence and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity.

Here in Montalban, in the Philippines, the feast was marked with a very special note, the Installation of the six feet image of St. Luigi Orione on the front terrace of the Chapel dedicated to him at the St. Luigi Orione Seminary. From there he now watches over the community and welcomes anyone who enters the compound.

The feast started in the morning with the procession with the boys of the Cottolengo, the Children of the Oratorio and many other children from the neighborhood.

In the afternoon, exactly at 5 pm we were invited to the Eucharistic Celebration Concelebrated by the Superior of the Community, Fr. Stan ACHI, FDP, in charge of the Seminary, Fr. Fausto FRANCESCHI, FDP, Novice Master, Fr. Joseph VAN CU, FDP, Assistant Master, Fr. Julio CUESTA, Director of the Cottolengo and Fr. Noeh E. ELNAR, Parish priest of the Saint Raphael Archangel Parish.

Many parishioners, youth of the KDOM (Kabataan ni Don Orione Movement), Friendship of Don Orione and children of the apostolate area of the Seminarians and Novices joined the Solemnity. Were also present the Novices of our Sisters, the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity accompanied by their Mistress, Sister Maria GRACIELLA, LMSC and the Sisters of Saint Anne, the Virgen Del Pilar Community.

In his homily based on the word of God of the Solemnity, Fr. Stan emphasized on the special meaning of Charity for Don Orione. He mentioned that the Word of God we heard were all about one thing, LOVE. He stretched that we are told that at the end, on the final judgment, we will all be judged only on one basis, Love. God will not ask so many questions. He will not assess us on many topic, but only on love. He will ask, “Have you loved?” this is, “Have you loved God? Have you loved your neighbor? Have you been able to see and serve Jesus in the person of the poor?”

These questions, Don Orione have clearly understood them and made his personal aim and the goal of his Congregation Love that he translated in Charity. He found that nothing was greater than that, to love God and to serve him in the poor. Thus, he can exclaim, “Only charity will save the world.” As to say with Saint Paul, all the other thing will pass, but only Love expressed in Charity will remain and lead to our salvation.

Fourteen years has passed on since he is canonized. He lived only 68 few years. But the love he toiled for and the charity which motivated his actions is eternal. It does not last only fourteen years. It was not actual only for 68 years. Charity is everlasting and we the spiritual sons and daughters of Don Orione will be evaluated on our level of Charity. As said Pope John Paul the II the evening before the Canonization, “they will gaze at him and then turn and look at you…” Would they be able to see in us instruments of God’s Love? Would they see burning in us the charity which emblazed the life of Don Orione?

At the end of this Eucharistic celebration, the newly chosen coordinator of the KDOM made their oath taking and were commissioned to lead the Orione Youth Movement. Happy feast of St. Luigi Orione to all and Ave Maria and onwards.