you must sing, dance, celebrate…
because I am alive!
Woe to you if you say: “Poor her….”
No, not at all “poor her”! I will go on calmly and sing,
I’m already singing!
Something magnificent will open wide before me…
life doesn’t die!».
Mother Elvira
Mother Elvira's Birth into Heaven
FUNERAL WITH REQUIEM MASS
We inform you that the funeral with the Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 4:30 PM on the hill of Saluzzo, at 35 Via San Lorenzo.
It will be possible to pay a final farewell to Mother Elvira's body starting from 10 in the morning on the hill of Saluzzo, under the tent where the service will take place. The program will begin at 2:00 PM with an afternoon of prayer, dances, and testimonials, and will conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist at 4:30 PM.
Access to the hill will be granted to buses, minibuses, individuals with disabilities, journalists, priests, and cars (subject to available space). Due to traffic considerations, we kindly suggest using the SHUTTLE SERVICE, which will be available from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM and will depart from the Saluzzo Cattle Market (16 Don Giacomo Soleri) and the train station.
ATTENTION! No meals will be offered or sold.
FOR ALL PRIESTS: Please arrive at least one hour before the service and bring with you a purple chasuble and stole.
PROCESSION WITH THE BODY OF MOTHER ELVIRA
In the morning of Friday, August 11, 2023, the men and women of the Cenacolo Community will process the body of Mother Elvira from the Mother House on the hill of Saluzzo to the Formation House at 115 Via Pagno, the location of the burial.
For those who wish to join us in prayer and join the procession, there will be a stop at 9:30 AM in front of the Saluzzo Cathedral (Cattedrale Maria Vergine Assunta, at 1 Piazza G. Garibaldi). From there, the procession will continue with the following route: CORSO ITALIA, CORSO PIEMONTE, PIAZZA CESARE BATTISTI, VIA PAGNO.
(Click here to view the route).
ATTENTION! Please bring water and food with you
A SHUTTLE SERVICE will be available for the return from 115 Via Pagno to the cemetery parking lot in Saluzzo (Provincial Road Pinerolo).
Saluzzo, 3 agosto 2023
«When they say: “Elvira has died!”, you must sing, dance, celebrate… because I am alive! Woe to you if you say: “Poor her….” No, not at all “poor her”! I will go on calmly and sing, I’m already singing! Something magnificent will open wide before me… life doesn’t die!». .
With these words repeated over the years, Sister Elvira Petrozzi, known as Mother Elvira, prepared her collaborators and the young people of Comunità Cenacolo, for whom she is the founder, for her passage into eternal life.
At the age of 86, surrounded by the prayer and affection of the entire “family” of the Comunità Cenacolo, Mother Elvira serenely returned to the Father’s home. Her earthly pilgrimage ended at the House of Formation of the Comunità Cenacolo in Saluzzo where she lived the last years of her illness, cared for with loving attention by the Sisters of the community. This morning, August 3, 2023 at 3:50, surrounded by all the Sisters of the house in prayer, after finishing the singing of the Salve Regina, she opened her large, bright eyes and confidently surrendered herself to the merciful embrace of the Father and the tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Consumed by a life spent with extraordinary generosity and intensity in loving and serving the poor and the needy - especially the young and those lost in addictions and a meaningless life - and in her final years, bearing the Cross, Mother Elvira continued until the end with faith, determination, courage, and complete surrender to God, bearing witness to her immense love for life.
During the days of the Festival of Life held on the hill of Saluzzo from July 13th to 16th, thousands of people, including young individuals, parents, and friends belonging to the "big family" of the Community, came from various parts of the world to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Cenacolo. They gathered around her in intense prayer and deep affection to thank her and accompany her as she passed into eternal life.
After the Festival, a river of people - young individuals from our fraternities and missions scattered around the world, "children" of the Community, friends, and parents - came to the House of Formation to bid her a final farewell, to give her a caress, a prayer, a kiss, and a thank you. The anticipation of her birth into Heaven stretched beyond any human expectation, filled with prayer and affection, bringing emotion and gratitude to the hearts of all who could say goodbye and express their gratitude, especially the men and women welcomed into various fraternities. Just as she did throughout her entire life, Mother Elvira wanted to give herself to everyone until the very end, until this morning, the day when the Father's promise over her life was fulfilled. Together with you, we thank the Lord for this precious life that helped so many lives to be reborn, to find hope and the will to live!
The wake will be held at the House of Formation of the Missionary Sisters of the Resurrection, located at Via Pagno 115 in Saluzzo, the place where Mother Elvira lived her last years of earthly life. Visitation to pay respects will be possible starting tomorrow, Friday, August 4th, during the following hours: from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., until the date of the funeral, which will be announced as soon as possible. Every evening, also starting from tomorrow, Friday, August 4th, at 8:30 p.m., a Holy Rosary will be recited, open to all, on the hill of San Lorenzo in Saluzzo, the place where the Comunità Cenacolo was born.
You are all invited, upon receiving this news, to give a warm smile to Mother Elvira and to say a heartfelt thank you for her life lived to the fullest! May she watch over us and intercede for us from Heaven!
