Italy
May, 2017
Thirty years ago, at the beginning of Vassula’s mission, the Lord had asked and requested thus: “I want My land fertile; … I want this wilderness irrigated, who will water My garden?” (TLIG Messages, September 20, 1987)
Since then, after Vassula gave her fiat to Him, Jesus has been sending her to the four corners of this earth to water this thirsty soil with His Love. The Lord is asking us to embellish His Garden. As it exists now, He sees nothing in It but aridity; aridity is reigning over It and the dry winds are blowing on His Garden, drying out what little is left. (cf. TLIG Messages, November 28, 1987)
Once again, it was Italy’s turn to receive this Heavenly Dew and be irrigated. “And, oh, how much more Italy is in need, Italy that has gone sooo dry!” (TLIG Messages, April 5, 2017) With these words, Jesus intervened, expressing urgency and the grief in His Heart, while Vassula was writing an email (April 5, 2017) to the organizers in Italy for her upcoming tour there. This would be a tour that would last for almost a month, and would encompass all of Italy, from north to south and east to west.
Vassula left warm and sunny Rhodes on Sunday, April 30, and arrived in Rome, where Francis Mifsud, from the Italian TLIG Association in Rome, was there to receive her. Fr. Rolf Schönenberger, a Catholic priest with a huge mission in Russia and the Ukraine, and a devout friend of the TLIG messages and Vassula, was arriving the same evening, scheduled to fly to Venice the following day. Vassula and Fr. Rolf stayed overnight at Villa Maria Pia in Rome, a place run by nuns who knew Vassula, so Vassula was in a familiar place. The Sister that welcomed Vassula knew her personally as well as her mission, and during this visit the sister was given the TLIG Radio webpage address so she could listen to the Messages and the HIR book. She was thrilled!
Monday, May 1: Rome – Pordenone
In the afternoon, the first stop of this mission was Pordenone. At the airport, Eugenio Francescon, Bruno Bartoletti and Franco Trevisiol, the TLIG organizers in the north of Italy whom Vassula had met last year during her previous visit there, received them. After an hour’s drive, they reached Pordenone.
Pordenone is the main commune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The name comes from the Latin Portus Naonis, meaning ‘port on the Noncello River.’ The weather was reminiscent of winter and a thought crossed my mind: Let there not be winter in the hearts that will hear the message Vassula is bringing, but a blooming spring!
Tuesday, May 2: Pordenone
After breakfast, Eugenio, Bruno and Franco, along with Alessandra Micheluz and Licia Bragnuolo, two other TLIG organizers from the north of Italy, met with Vassula and Fr. Rolf. They had to verbally go through the program of the day and the upcoming first meeting on May 3. Although it is the second time for all of them to organize such an event for Vassula’s mission, they had meticulously taken care to follow every detail to the letter of the guidelines. Only a few alterations were made after Vassula’s input.
At 4 p.m. a TV interview was scheduled with Telepordenone, a local TV channel that transmits to the neighboring regions. The interview would be shown on Sunday, they were told, but this evening, a two-minute spot during the news would be aired about Vassula that would also include the announcement of the upcoming meetings. The director of this channel, Gigi di Meo, who for the first time accepted the airing of the subject matter Vassula would be presenting, welcomed Vassula, Fr. Rolf, Eugenio and Alessandra. Once in the studio, Alberto Comisso, who would be interviewing Vassula, welcomed the group and showed them their places. There were certain questions given to him on paper, so that he wouldn’t find it difficult to interview Vassula, as it would be his first time as well to discuss such a topic as prophecy with a guest.
The interview lasted 40 minutes, and it was obvious from the very beginning that Alberto was left in awe. Their interview seemed to reach a crescendo, while Alberto was slowly realizing that this guest is no ‘ordinary’ lady. In her hands, she carries a message directly from God the Creator for all humanity. It was interesting to watch how Alberto was slowly getting the ‘message’ that he was dealing with something extraordinary. Eventually, he began asking questions that were not included on the interview guide paper. As he admitted later, he couldn’t understand where these questions he voiced were coming from! Among others, he asked about the handwriting in the Messages, about the situation in the world and God’s help to rectify it, and about Our Lady. After the interview, Alberto continued his interest and asked her where he could get a book with the Messages. Since he was holding the only TLIG book in the studio, those present all told him to keep that one. And, using all his courage, he asked Vassula to sign it. Praised be His Holy Name!
Part one of interview can be viewed here and part two here.
That night, the group arranged to watch the news on Telepordenone at Daniela and Bruno’s house, so as to see the two-minute spot about Vassula. Meanwhile, Fr. Peter Simara from the Czech Republic and Teresa Perri from the TLIG Association in Greece had arrived from Athens to support the group here with the hall set-up for the meetings in the north of Italy. Giancarlo Turchetto, a member of the TLIG group in Pordenone had arrived as well. As everyone was gathered in front of the television waiting to see the interview, to our surprise, the entire 40-minute interview was aired and not just parts of it! The witness meeting schedule was also announced! That meant that everyone watching the News of Telepordenone channel that evening would see Vassula’s interview and would know about the upcoming meetings! The night ended with everyone rejoicing and with the hope that many people would be able to go to the witness meeting.
Wednesday, May 3: Pordenone – Cordenons
At the lobby – Fr. Peter, Fr. Rolf, Magda, Vassula with the families from Check Republic
After driving for nine hours and having spent the night at the homes of our friends Licia and Eugenio’s sister, the four families from the Czech Republic together with Fr. Peter Simara and Magda Skalova came to the hotel to see Vassula. Magda was invited by Vassula to be part of this mission to film all the meetings in Italy. Later, together with Eugenio, all four of the families with their children went to one of the busiest streets of Pordenone and for three hours handed out flyers. The children approached everyone with a smile, while their parents sang praises and hymns. Filled with anticipation, all looked forward to Vassula’s first meeting, opening the marathon tour of 13 meetings all over Italy.
The children handing out flyers
In the evening, the meeting was held at Sala Consiliare de Benedet, Centro Culturale Aldo Moro, Via Traversagna 4, in Cordenons, a commune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km. northwest of Trieste and about 4 km. northeast of Pordenone.
The children from the Czech Republic opened the meeting by singing the “Our Father” in Aramaic, leaving everyone in awe. These little angels evangelize in their own way, Vassula said later on. After presenting a video of Vassula’s breathtaking mission around the world, Fr. Rolf introduced Vassula.
The children signing in the meeting in Cordenons
Vassula witnessing at Cordenons
With Daniela interpreting in Italian, Vassula started to narrate the story of the beginning of her mission, 32 years ago. The people in the audience listened attentively all through Vassula’s witnessing. At the end, and after a brief Beth Myriam video, Bruno spoke about this blessed work for the poor around the world: 26 houses of Mary in 16 countries. He also presented the canvas Vassula has painted: the agony of Jesus in Gethsemane. The audience, on their way out, bought the One Book of the TLIG messages in Italian and gave their contact details so as to be in touch with the group in Pordenone. Some spoke with Vassula and others gave their testimonies on camera to Magda.
Bruno, Daniela and their son Andrea with Vassula
Thursday, May 4: Udine
Right after breakfast, Alessandra, Eugenio and Magda came to the hotel. Today’s mission: use the media for localized promotion of tonight’s meeting in Udine–a medieval city and commune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, 50 km. northwest of Pordenone. Magda’s precious help together with Teresa and Alessandra made it possible to have the meeting advertised in a 40 km. range around Udine through Facebook. Magda also opened a new Facebook page in Italian, ‘La Vera Vita in Dio,’ so people from Italy may follow the TLIG events and activities in their own language, especially Vassula’s present tour in Italy.
In the meantime, Pavlos Theodorou, who is responsible for TLIG Radio, called to inform us that the TLIG Radio Facebook page of the Italian channel, written and spoken in the Italian language, was uploaded two days ago. Enthusiastically received, it was already bombarded with visits and likes. This channel gave us an opening to announce Vassula’s meeting in Udine on the Radio page and let it spread like fire worldwide among all friends on Facebook.
Vassula pointing at the Renaissance paintings next to the entrance of Loggia del Lionello
In the evening, after an hour’s drive, Vassula and Fr. Rolf reached Udine. Although it is a big town, there were no people to be seen on the streets. The four Czech families with their children who had arrived earlier to help prepare the hall were out on the street, in front of the town hall, Loggia del Lionello, where the meeting was to take place, giving out flyers to the very few passers-by.
Udine – Fr. Rolf introducing Vassula
After Fr. Rolf’s introduction, Vassula began her witnessing. Vassula concluded her talk with a few personal stories that were all lessons and made the people in the audience feel the intimate love of the Lord and His continuous presence to us. At the end, Magda recorded some people who wanted to share with joy how the Words of Christ had touched them.
Vassula and Daniela in Udine
Friday, May 5: Schio
In the morning, Bruno came to pick up Vassula and Fr. Rolf for a radio interview in Schio–a town and commune in the province of Vicenza, situated north of Vicenza and east of the Lake of Garda. It is surrounded by the Little Dolomites and Mount Pasubio. After a two hours’ drive, they arrived at the famous town of Schio. It was here that Our Lady appeared to Renato Baron from 1985 until 2004. Vassula had visited Schio back at the beginning of her mission, and met Renato. She had been there more than 20 years ago, and as soon as people heard that she was returning, they wanted to see her again.
Rosa Winter, an old friend from Switzerland who was actually the first person to open halls and churches for Vassula to witness in Switzerland, called Ornella Taziani asking her to interview Vassula when she heard that Vassula would be witnessing in the north of Italy. Ornella was the owner of Radio Kolbe and had heard of Vassula, so arranging an interview was nothing new to her. Radio Kolbe is a beautiful studio situated in a complex that houses a place for elderly people, people with moving disabilities and retired priests. In fact, it was Our Lady that asked from Renato for such a place to be established.
Part of the garden of the complex with the statue of Our Lady
Before the interview, Fr. Rolf was asked to celebrate Holy Mass in the complex’s small chapel. There were just a few people waiting to participate; some who already knew Vassula and others who had heard about her and the Messages and were eager to meet her. After Mass, they had a chat with Vassula and were given the One Book of the TLIG messages in Italian. One of them, Ivan, had heard about Vassula back in the 80’s, and had travelled all the way to Switzerland in 1989, to meet with her personally. Now, to his utter surprise, he was told that Vassula’s mission had expanded to over 86 countries, that she has witnessed more than 1105 times and that the messages have been translated into 45 languages! And, when Vassula mentioned the ecumenical TLIG pilgrimages where Muslim imams and Buddhist monks join Christian clergy and laity from many denominations in inter-faith dialogues, he was dumbfounded and asked if he could write an article in his local magazine about Vassula’s worldwide mission!
Later, Vassula, Fr. Rolf and Bruno, along with Ornella, went to the studio. Fr. Rolf sat next to Vassula, so as to interpret for her–with headphones and all. For the next 40 minutes, Ornella asked Vassula pointed questions so that her listeners would be interested to learn more about the TLIG messages.
Vassula, Ornella and Fr. Rolf at the studio. Behind is the picture of Renato Baron
Fr. Rolf, Vassula, Ornella and Bruno after the interview
This interview was due to be aired more than once through Radio Kolbe, which transmits from Schio up to Padova and Verona, and all over the world through modern telephone technology, click here. It is also on the TLIG Radio webpage, click here.
Before leaving Schio for Pordenone, Vassula, Fr. Rolf and Bruno stopped by the apparition site of the ‘Queen of Love’ as Our Lady wished to be called when she appeared to Renato Baron. Before leaving, the families from the Czech Republic asked for a group photo with Vassula and Fr. Peter as a reminder of this tour.