Posted: November 12, 2007

Argentina - Zeffirino is Blessed

(ANS – Chimpay) –About 200,000 people took part in the beatification ceremony of Zefferino Namuncurá, a young Mapuche Indian, Salesian student and aspirant to the priesthood who died at age 18 in Rome, Italy in 1905.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B, Secretary of State and Papal Delegate for this ceremony, read the Pontifical Decree that numbered Zefferino among the Blessed, indicating the date of his liturgical memorial to be August 26th, the day of his birth.
Bishop Esteban Laxague S.D.B of Viedma, presented the request that Zefferino be beatified to Cardinal Bertone. Hermelinda Painequeo and Aparicio Millapi, representatives of the Mapuche people, and Fr. Enrico dal Covolo, S.D.B. Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, also endorsed the request for beatification.

Over 100 Bishops and a large number of priests took part in the solemn beatification liturgy. Among those present were Fr. Pascual Chávez, S.D.B. Rector Major of the Salesians, his Vicar Fr. Adriano Bregolin, S.D.B., the Salesian Provincials of Argentina and various delegations of Salesians and members of the Salesian Family arrived for the occasion from countries of Latin America Also attending the beatification was Mrs. Valeria Herrera, a young mother from Cordoba who had been miraculously cured through the intercession of Zefferino Namuncurá.

Among the dignitaries present were the Vice-President of the Republic of Argentina, Mr. Daniel Scioli, the Ambassador of Argentina to the Holy See, Mr. Carlos Custer, the Secretary for Religious Worship, Mr. Guillermo Oliveri, and other authorities.

In his homily Cardinal Bertone referred to several fundamental features of the holiness of the new Blessed: "If holiness was able to flourish in him, it was because it found fertile soil in the human qualities belonging to his land and to his people, qualities that he assumed and perfected." "Glorifying God today in Blessed Zefferino," the Secretary of State continued, "also means recalling with gratitude the ancient traditions of the Mapuche, proud and undefeated; and at the same time discovering once again the fruitfulness of the Gospel, that never destroys the genuine values of which a culture is the expression, but takes them, purifies them and perfects them."

At the end of the celebration, Fr. Pascual Chávez in the name of the Salesian Family thanked Cardinal Bertone for his presence and the Bishops' Conference of Argentina, in the person of Cardinal Jorge Begoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, for their support in the organization of the beatification.

Fr. Chávez also paid his respects to the Mapuche people saying: "Today, Chimpay represents a land of saints because it has given us a saint and a model for all the young people of the world. Many thanks to the Mapuche people!"

In addition the IX successor of Don Bosco also saw in the event of the beatification an opportunity to continue to work on behalf of youth: "Let us believe in the young," he said. "Let us put our money into their education, and in this way we shall succeed in transforming the Americas."

Vatican – Zeffirino, an extraordinary witness
(ANS – Vatican City) –At the end of the Angelus on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, Benedict XVI, addressed the members of Argentinian community and members of the Salesian Family gathered in St. Peter's Square, recalling Zefferino Namuncurà who was beatified in Chimbay, Argentina by Cardinal Tracisio Bertone, S.D.B., Secretary of State.

After speaking about St. Martin Bishop of Tours and leading the Angelus, the Pope made a brief reference to the new Blessed when greeting the people in Italian and then at greater length in Spanish. "We thank the Lord for the extraordinary witness of this young student of 18 years of age who, inspired by his devotion to the Eucharist and his love for Jesus Christ, wanted to become a Salesian and a priest to show the way to heaven to his Mapuche brothers and sisters."

"With his life," Benedict XVI continued "he enlightens our path towards holiness, inviting us to love our brothers and sisters with the love with which God loves us. We ask Mary Help of Christians that the example of the new Blessed may produce abundant fruits of Christian life particularly among the young."

November 9, 2007 - Argentina – In anticipation of the beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurà

(ANS – Chimpay) – Chimpay, a small country place with about 4,000 inhabitants, is preparing to host the beatification of the Servant of God Zeffirino Namuncurá, Salesian student and aspirant to the priesthood.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state of the Holy See, will preside at the celebration and the rite of beatification in the name of His Holiness Benedict XVI. Accompanying him will be Bishop Esteban Maria Laxague, SDB, of Viedma; Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, archbishop of Buenos Aires; and the ninth successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Pascual Chavez, rector major of the Salesians. The beatification will take place at the Parque Ceferiniano on the banks of the Rio Negro, where on August 28, 1886, Zeffirino Namuncurá was born and which has been the site of pilgrimages for a number of years.

Over 150,000 are expected; among the many faithful there will be a number of representatives of the Church in Argentina and of the Salesians; members of the Salesian Family and of the Mapuche; and descendants of the Namuncurá family. Bishop Laxague will make the official request for the beatification of the young man Zeffirino, followed by Aparicio Millapi and Hermelinda Painequeo, representatives of the Mapuche, who will support the request in the Mapuche language and then in Spanish. Fr. Ricardo Noceti, pastor of the parish in Chimpay, will briefly describe the life of the Servant of God, and then Cardinal Bertone, in the name of Benedict XVI will officially declare him “blessed” as a picture of the young man is unveiled.

The Rector Major has just arrived in Argentina, accompanied by his vicar, Fr. Adriano Bregolin; Fr. Tarcisio Scaramussa, delegate for communications; and Fr. Enrico dal Covolo, postulator general for the causes of the saints of the Salesian Family. In these days the provincials of Italy, Brazil, and Argentina, accompanied by Fr. Pier Fausto Frisoli, councilor for the Italy-Middle East Region, are taking part in a pilgrimage to the places where Blessed Artemides Zatti, Salesian brother, and Blessed Laura Vicuña, pupil of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, lived.

According to the program for the beatification, at 7:00 p.m. today there will be Mass for the opening of the new church in the Parque Ceferiniano. Tomorrow, November 10, after adoration of the Blessed Sacrament there will be a musical concert for young people at 10:30 p.m. In the afternoon of the same day [sic], Cardinal Bertone will go to Fortín Mercedes to celebrate Mass at the tomb of Zeffirino Namuncurá.

Further information about Zeffirino Namuncurá and the beatification can be found (in Spanish) on www.ceferino.dbp.org.ar

Waiting for the beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurà

(ANS – Rome) – The letter of the Rector Major to the members of the Salesian Family for the beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurà aroused a number of reactions and positive emotions in the Salesian world.

“The conclusion of the letter, « While we praise and give thanks to the Lord for this new piece in the beautiful mosaic of Salesian holiness...» particularly struck me.” – a Salesian writes. “In our Don Bosco Church in Rome for fifty years around the figure of our Father there are the angels and then among others many who at that time were candidates for the altars and have since almost all arrived, and now it is the turn of Zefferino...”. The reference is to the large mosaic over the high altar in the Church of Don Bosco at Cinecittà made by Giovanni Brancaccio.

In the meantime preparations for the beatification are building up. It has been confirmed that the beatification will be broadcast by the TELEFE television channels. The liturgy will be broadcast live by channel 9 in Bahía Blanca and 8 in Mar del Plata and, with half an hour’s difference, on channel 7 in Neuquén. In Buenos Aires it will be possible to follow the beatification on the archdiocesan channel 21.

It has also be announced that on the occasion of the beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurá, the railway line that used to cross a large part of the Province of Río Negro and Neuquén will be re-opened. The train service, suspended for some years, will open only for this important occasion, to facilitate the movement of pilgrims wishing to reach Chimpay for the beatification.

The special train will leave on Saturday 10 from Zapala so as to arrive at Chimpay at 17.00 in the afternoon local time, and is due to return to to Zapala on Sunday evening.

Argentina – Commemorative postage stamp for the beatification of Zeffirino
(Buenos Aires) – According to reports from the Salesians in Argentina and from the AICA Catholic Agency, the Post Office of the Republic of Argentina has issued a stamp of Zeffirino Namuncurá, as part of the many initiatives linked with his  beatification.

The stamp shows the new Blessed dressed in traditional Mapuche costume and his signature in which can also be seen the initial letters of Jesus and Mary.

Accompanying the issue is a summary of the life of the young man in which it is said that “he resolved in the best way to end conflicts which saw others losing themselves in violence and blood.”

On the post card printed by the Argentine Post Office there is also a picture of Zeffirino and the text: “beatification of Zeffirino Namuncurá”, and the theme chosen for the celebrations: “Zeffirino, son of God and everyone’s brother.”

The stamp and the post card were printed on October 13, 2007 and the official launch is set for November 10, 2007 at Chimpay, on the occasion of the celebrations for the beatification.

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