On Saturday, September 21st at 5:30 p.m., the Cathedral of Bologna will be the scene of a solemn moment of great joy for the entire diocesan community. The Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, will preside over the Mass during which the seminarian Giacomo Campanella, a 29-year-old from the parish of San Mamante di Medicina, will be ordained a priest.
Don Giacomo Campanella, born on July 7, 1995, completed his studies at the “Giordano Bruno” Industrial Technical Institute in Budrio, and then began his theological journey at the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna. Ordained deacon on October 7, 2023, he served in the pastoral service in the Parish of San Lazzaro di Savena, where he was able to put into practice his desire to be a point of reference for the community and for young people.
His priestly ordination represents not only an important personal step, but also a moment of grace for the entire Church of Bologna. Monsignor Marco Bonfiglioli, Rector of the Archiepiscopal Seminary, commented with these words: “The entire Church of Bologna joyfully lives this moment of grace with the priestly ordination of Don Giacomo Campanella. His choice to respond to the Lord’s call and become a priest expresses his response to a vocation of service to the Church to announce the wonders that God works, making himself an instrument of the Sacraments that bring the presence of the Lord. Giacomo’s is a life conquered by Jesus: may he be of help to all of us and, in particular, to young people and to all vocations.”
Don Giacomo also expressed his deep emotion in view of this day: “For me it is a grace to have been able to open myself to this vocation. I am now living the moment of ordination with serenity and gratitude as a response to the gift I have received. This choice of mine is a consequence of the desire to become close and grow in faith.”
The ceremony will be broadcast live on the official website of the Church of Bologna and on the YouTube channel of “12Porte”, to allow everyone to participate even remotely in this moment of prayer and communion.
Diocesan Congress of Catechists and Educators
The following day, Sunday, September 22, at 2:30 p.m., at the Corpus Domini Church in Bologna (via Enriques, 56), the Diocesan Congress of Catechists and Educators will be held on the theme “Docile to the Voice of the Spirit.” This meeting, promoted by the Diocesan Catechetical Office, represents the culmination of the pastoral work carried out in the last year and the beginning of a new path of reflection and formation.
Don Cristian Bagnara, Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Office, underlined the importance of the meeting: «After having collected the numerous contributions of the catechists of our Pastoral Zones, we wish to be ready to be docile to the voice of the Spirit and, listening to some insights, we would like to gather ideas to work with practical intelligence in the catechetical contexts of our Pastoral Zones».
Two events of great importance for the pastoral life of the Diocese of Bologna, which are part of a journey of faith, service and Christian testimony increasingly rich in meaning.