Desenzano Promotes Saint Angela Merici’s Heritage Through Citywide Initiatives
The goal is to make Sant’Angela Merici known: she is the patroness of Desenzano, but nowadays many residents of Desenzano seem to have forgotten her figure, her history, and her message.
Not to mention the thousands of visitors and tourists who spend their holidays in Desenzano, most of whom do not even stop for a moment to notice the traces of a saint venerated throughout Europe, and who was a fundamental figure in the history of the Church.
Therefore, with a series of initiatives, the Municipality has decided to revitalize, if it can be called that, the image of Sant’Angela Menci, spreading her history, her human and spiritual journey, and the knowledge of the places where the saint lived.
Educational initiatives
The entire set of initiatives will be presented on Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m., during a conference at Palazzo Todeschini. What is it about? The list of dissemination tools is truly extensive.
To start, there will be the distribution of a videotape, printed in a thousand copies and curated by the Desenzanese journalist and historian, Tullio Ferro, in which the events and history of S. Angela are narrated through words and images, along with her choices and the deep motivations of her spiritual vocation.
Alongside the video, the Municipality has prepared the publication of a religious tourist guide to the Merician sites: from the saint’s birthplace in via Castello to the Convent of the Orsoline founded by her; from the cathedral where her relics are kept to the house in Grezze where S. Angela experienced the signs of her vocation.
Devotees and simple tourists will be handed a city map highlighting and illustrating the itinerary tracing S. Angela.
Starting in mid-May, an exhibition featuring illustrations on panels will be installed in via S. Maria, right in front of the facade of the Orsoline convent.
Throughout the city, road signs will remind residents and visitors of the presence of the saint in Desenzano.
“For the Jubilee Year,” explains the ’assessore
to social services, Valentino Marostica, – the Orsoline sisters expect to welcome at least two thousand visitors to Desenzano, all devoted to S. Angela.
These pilgrims deserve our respect and the best hospitality, starting from the production of guides, routes, and educational materials.
However, in reality, we are addressing all residents of Desenzano. There are stories here, ancient traditions, a cultural and religious heritage that risks being lost without initiatives like these.
To keep alive the memory of an important figure like S. Angela Merici.
