subtleoasis: Zefferino Namuncura, now BLESSED!

"The beatification will take place at the “Parque Ceferiniano”, on the banks of the Río Negro where on 28 August 1886 Ceferino Namuncurá was born and which has been the site of pilgrimages for a number of years." (ANS)

Yes, today is the day of Zefferino Namuncura's beatification. Blessed Zefferino (Ceferino) is one of the saints that I would never forget. Aside from the fact that he is among the league of young saints that were products of Don Bosco's preventive system and him being an aspirant to the priestly vocation, I had the privilege to portray his character in a musical play that we staged, in his honor, about a year ago. His life in the seminary at Viedma to his studies in Italy until his death due to tuberculosis in Rome can be summed-up is a life lived with compassion, a life of charity. He did his duties with much conviction and dedication - extraordinarily well. All these he did because of his dream: He wanted to be a priest to serve his people - the Mapuche Tribe.

Blessed Zefferino Namuncura is a great reminder for us, young people especially my fellow Bosconians, that holiness isn't impossible. All of us can take that road to sanctity if we would only be zealous in heeding to the call of our father, teacher and friend, Saint John Bosco:

"Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well."

Here is a clip about Blessed Zefferino: