Padre Domenico Remembered at the Shrine of the Holy Face on the Anniversary of His Death

 

text and photos by Antonio Bini

Father Domenico da Cese was remembered in the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello on the 44th anniversary of his death which took place on  September 17, 1978 in Turin where he had gone for the exposition of the Shroud. 

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Paolo Palombarini who recalled the long stay of Fr. Domenico in Manoppello during which he lived in constant contemplation of the Holy Face. In reality Fr. Domenico accomplished quite a bit more. 

Numerous devotees traveled from Puglia, Lazio and a number of other places. Many had not been to Manoppello since 2019, before Covid. Some inquired about the death of Br. Vincenzo D’Elpidio, remembering him for his many years as the director of groups of devotees of his friend Fr. Domenico. Among these groups, perplexities have arisen over the failure to start the beatification and canonization process for Fr. Domenico during the over seven years which have followed the Nulla Osta (Nihil Obstat) granted on March 3, 2015 by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. After such a long time, the archbishop of the diocese of Chieti-Vasto has not yet established the "diocesan tribunal", to be appointed for the examination of the numerous testimonies received by the Capuchins. 

Among the news regarding Father Domenico, it should be noted that in recent days a painting portraying Fr. Domenico, commissioned by the Capuchin Fathers, a work of the painter G F Renzi, is now on permanent display in the room leading to the exhibition on the Holy Face. A plaque records the dates of his birth and death. Also present for the commemoration was the Polish journalist Aleksandra Zapotoczny, close to Pope John Paul II, who is about to publish a book on the Capuchin.