“No! It is a sin! God Does not want it. You’ll go to Hell!”

Maria Teresa Goretti was an Italian virgin martyr of the Catholic Church, and one of the youngest saints to be canonized. She was born to a farming family. Her father died when she was six, and the family had to share a house with another family, the Serenellis. She took over household duties while her mother and siblings worked in the fields. One afternoon, Alessandro, the Serenellis’ 18- year-old son, made sexual advances to her. When she refused to submit to him, he stabbed her 14 times. She was taken to the hospital, but she died while forgiving him. He was arrested, convicted, and jailed. During imprisonment, he repented. After 30 years, he was released from prison and visited her mother to beg forgiveness, which she granted. He later became a lay brother in a Capuchin monastery.

Alessandro Serenelli was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In his first 3 years of isolation Maria appeared to Alessandro in a dream toward the end of the third year. In the dream, Maria was in a garden full of flowers which were lilies. Maria would pick 14 lilies with a smile and present them to Alessandro. The lilies in Alessandro’s heart became flames of fire and understood that Maria had forgiven him. This awareness, set Alessandro on the path of conversion and became a Capuchin Lay brother till his death.

“If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness”
Assunta Carlini Goretti Mother

Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God’s Grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (pause, insert special intention here), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven.
Amen.

A Catholic Pilgrimage; The Word Pilgrim comes from the Latin word peregrinum, which conveys the idea of wandering over a distance. A Pilgrimage is a Spiritual Journey to a Sacred site for the purpose of honoring God and experiencing transformation. It can be a physical or a faith journey. A Pilgrimage is never truly finished because the pilgrim seeks to encounter something deeper and come back changed. We invite individuals, Youth Groups, Parish Ministries and all to come and visit and venerate the Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, Saint Maria Goretti, and Saint Jose Sanchez Del Rio. Groups and individuals interested in completing a pilgrimage to the parish are encouraged to contact the office staff.