Posted On 2014-12-18 In Schoenstatters

Thank you, Father Ludovico

ITALY, Calogero Tuzzolino. “…Pastoral help must be body to body. In other words, to accompany. And this means wasting time. Jesus was the master of time wasting, no? He wasted time to accompany, to allow consciences to mature, to heal, to teach. To accompany someone means to journey together.” These words of Pope Francis, addressed to the family of Schoenstatt on October 25th, fully reflect the work that Father Ludovico Tedeschi has done here in Sicily and Italy, in these twelve years, he “lost time” with us, accompanied us, with simplicity, humility, walked along with us.

 

He likes to say, “We grew up together,” that’s it; we have all received so much from him, but everyone has given something to him, because a humble person is able to always receive something from others.

“Do not worry,” “All is well”, “Rest assured that everything is resolved”

From November 19th to the 23rd, Fr. Ludovico toured Sicily greeting and thanking the people and the priests who he has known in recent years, and from whom he received so much love, such a great demonstration of esteem, and has gathered a small part of what he has sown in these years.

His successor will gather many are the fruits, because with God’s grace, he really has sown abundantly. He has been a great instrument in the Blessed Mother’s hands, helping to make Jesus more real in many “distant” families and out to many “peripheries.”

In his travel arrangements to Argentina, he chose the date of his priestly ordination: November 30th, and after twenty-nine years of priesthood, Father stated anew to God his desire to say, yes, I’ll go where you want me to be. Now he begins again from his native land. We are happy for his mother, Mary, who, after so many years, will have her son near again.

Best wishes for your new assignment Fr. Ludovico; never lose the simplicity and faith that set you apart. We will accompany you with our prayers, and on the 18th of each month in particular, we will be united spiritually in the Shrine.

Thanks

Thanks, Fr. Ludovico, from the heart. You will be missed, we will miss your joy, your unwavering trust “do not worry”, “all is well”, “rest assured that everything is resolved,” how many times have you repeated these words during many difficult moments? You helped us to move forward, to face them head-on.

Our children with whom you played always will miss you, as will the elderly because you know how to listen, and also the sick because you were always there with words of comfort for them. We’ll miss you because you know how to be a father, playmate, friend, guide, and example. We’ll miss you, but you will always be in our hearts.

Goodbye Fr. Ludovico, my family, the great Sicilian Schoenstatt family, and I send you a big group hug.

Best wishes to the new Director of the Schoenstatt Movement in Italy, Fr. John Riba, may it work out for him as well as it did for Fr. Ludovico, along with the indefatigable Sister Maria Ivone Zenovello, together with whom he will coordinate the Rosary Campaign in Italy.

Original: Italian. Translation: Valerio Salvador, Johannesburg, South Africa

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *