Augustinian Family Feast 2022

“Let us leave the rudder in God’s hands as He knows best what are our needs” Inez Casolani, Tertiary Augustinian

On Tuesday 7 June the Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity organised the 2022 Augustinian Family Feast in Gozo.

Seventy lay males and females from the communities of Valletta, Ħal-Tarxien, Paceville and St. Julians, together with members of the Secular Augustinain Fraternity, met at Ċirkewwa so as to take the 9.00 a.m. ferry. On arrival in Gozo they went straight to the convent of the Augustinian Sisters at Għajnsielem. There they attended two interesting talks.

Mrs Stephanie Quintano, President of the Association Henry and Inez Casolani, spoke about this couple, Servants of God, who were Augustinian Terteriaries. Also in attendance was Sr.Cecilia Casolani, the only child of the Casolani couple, and Mr. Anton Quintano, Vice Postulator of the case for the beatification of this couple.

After a coffee break, the lay members attended another talk, this time regarding Servant of God, Fra Grazzja Gauci, an Augustinian religious. This talk was delivered by Mr. Eman Bonnici, who had written Fra Grazzja’s biography.

It is worth mentiuoning that the Postulator of both these beatification cases is Fr. Josef Sciberras OSA.

Thereafter the members of the laity proceeded to Marsalforn where they had lunch at a restaurant there. These were beautiful moments when those present renewed acquaintancies and friendship, after two years of the pandemic during which time the Commission was unable to organise similar activities. From Marsalforn the laity went to the Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb, a place close to everybody’s heart and, doubtless, also to the Servants of God, the couple Casolani, but more so to the Servant of God, Fra Grazzja Gauci OSA, who hailed from Għarb. There the laity participated in Holy Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Provincial Leslie Gatt OSA.

Thnaks to the members of the Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity, the 2022 Augustinian Family Feast was a beautiful moment when all present again felt part of the Augustinian Family, as were part of this family Fr. Grazzja, and Henry and Inez Casolani.

Fr Franco Grech OSA

Religious Assistant, Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity