Aug 13, 2010 / 07:36 am
Early on Sunday morning the Holy Father will walk out of the gates of his summer villa to celebrate Mass at the local pontifical parish in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope has celebrated Mass at the parish of St. Thomas of Villanova every Aug. 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, since his election to the papacy in 2005.
Fr. Waldemar Niedziolka, the parish priest and resident director of the Salesians of Don Bosco community, told CNA that the church will be full to its 200-person capacity when the Holy Father arrives at 8 a.m. for the Eucharistic Celebration.
Fr. Niedziolka said that the Mass will take place in an intimate atmosphere to which the parish choir will contribute.
Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, a member of the Salesian order, will be there to concelebrate along with local Bishop Marcello Semeraro and the major rector of Don Bosco's order, Fr. Pascual Chavez, in addition to Fr. Niedziolka himself.