A little over a month after the earthquake that devastated southeastern Umbria, the Basilica of Santa Rita in Cascia reopened to the public. Yesterday afternoon, Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia, Monsignor Renato Boccardo, presided over Mass in the basilica.
«Cascia, with the reopening of the Basilica di Santa Rita, is the first link in a long chain of reconstruction of houses and churches – said the prelate – We are here to say all together that to start again is possible and to thank the firefighters for their service to us. We admire and are moved to see such great solidarity and humanity.»
The celebration was held to coincide with the feast of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of the Fire Department, who was present, and was working these days in the Valnerina territory, after contributing to the safety of the basilica of Santa Rita.
According to local press reports, throughout the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, almost 250 religious buildings were damaged by the earthquake.
Monsignor Boccardo celebrated another Mass in a tensile structure in Norcia, with an altar and a wooden cross made by firefighters.
«We are here to celebrate the beauty of solidarity and to say thank you to the fire brigade for all that you are doing at the service of our populations,» said the archbishop.
