THE PAPAL NUNCIO VISITS BANG NA

H.E. Msgr. Salvatore Pennachhio conducts prayer service at the Chapel of St. Louis Marie de Montfort, Bang Na campus. The Papal Nuncio blessing the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes during his visit to Bang Na on February 11,2004 in the presence of administrators.

H.E. Msgr. Salvatore Pennachhio, the newly accredited Papal Nuncio from the Holy See to the Kingdom of Thailand visited the Bang Na campus on February 11 in response to an invitation by the President Dr Bancha Seanghiran.

The Nuncio's visit coincided with the observance of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and he kindly consented to bless her serene grotto in the sylvan garden of the university. At a very meaningful prayer service in the Chapel of St. Louis Marie de Montfort, Msgr. Pennachhio conveyed to the university community greetings from His Holiness Pope John Paul n. In his homily, the Nuncio spoke of his personal devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. "When I decided to enter the priesthood, I did so with firm faith and reliance on Our Lady of Lourdes. Today as we bless her grotto at this university. I pray for all of you with the same faith and reliance I have in Our Lady of Lourdes."

With the Assumption School brass band in attendance and rendering solemn hymns to Mother Mary, the university community proceeded to the vestal garden surrounding the grotto, where in a very brief ceremony, H.E. Msgr. Pennacchio blessed the grotto and then posed for pictures. The sun shone in a gloriously blue sky and a mid- morning breeze soothed the skin of the gathering - it seemed as if Mother Mary was caressing her faithful with graces and blessings.

The President Emeritus and the President jointly conducted a tour of the Bang Na for the Nuncio and his assistant Msgr. Francesco Cao. The visitors were obviously impressed and moved by the grace and elegance of the various buildings and facilities. The campus tour concluded with lunch at the Grand Salon, where the President formally thanked H.E. the Nuncio for responding to his invitation. In his parting speech the Nuncio said that he would pray in a very special way for the university and that he would return to the campus - perhaps to visit and study in the library or to sit in meditation at the grotto, or to teach here if the university authorities would accept me."

By the time the Nuncio's entourage had left .the university preincts, a pleasant feeling stole upon those among his leave-takers: February 11,2004 was yet another historic day with the visit by the Papal Nuncio, and yet another occasion to venerate Mother Mary, our Sedes Sapientia, the hallowed Queen of Heaven.

Reported by Glen V. Chatelier
Chairperson, Department of English