BICENTENNIAL

In this Holy Year of Mercy, the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata commemorates its BICENTENNIAL, on November 4, 2016.

It has passed almost 200 years since Father Bertoni entered in the building of the Stigmata, attached to the Church of the Stigmata, with only 2 companions – Fr. Giovanni Marani and Brother Paolo Zanolli – in order to found the congregation.

The Stigmatines, as Apostolic Missionaries in assistance to the bishops anywhere in the diocese and in the world whatsoever, tirelessly have gone to the whole world, pointing out the motto of the congregation: Euntes Docete [Latin for ‘Go forth and Teach’], and nowadays are present in 15 countries of this world, besides the mother-country Italy: United States, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa, England, European Georgia, Germany, China, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and India.

We, Stigmatine Laity, as member associates, are also commemorating this wonderful BICENTENNIAL, that, since of the beginning, has been reached with immeasurable efforts, especially of St. Gaspar Bertoni, founder of the congregation, and his early companions.