The announcement on 13 December, 2021 – She will be blessed
On Monday 13 December 2021, during the Audience granted to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis authorized the same Congregation to promulgate the Decree concerning the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Maria Carola Cecchin (born Fiorina), a professed religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Benedetto Cottolengo, born on 3 April 1877 in Cittadella (Padua) and died on the steamer while returning from Kenya to Italy on 13 November 1925.

The Superior General of the Cottolengo Sisters, Mother Elda Pezzuto , together with the Father General of the Small House, Don Carmine Arice, and the Superior General of the Cottolenghini brothers, Brother Giuseppe Visconti , express their joy, in the name of the Small House spread throughout the world and especially in Africa, for this gift of Providence and their gratitude to the Holy Father for having authorized the promulgation of the decree on the miracle attributed to the intercession of Sister Maria Carola.

“The miracle”, underlines the postulator Sister Antonietta Bosetti , a cottolenghina nun, “concerns the immediate, complete and lasting, not scientifically explainable, return to life, after 30 minutes, of the newborn Msafiri Hilary Kiama considered ‘still birth’, born without vital signs with absence of cardiac activity, muscle tone and cyanotic color ». The child was born on 14 April, 2013 on a Land Rover on the way from Gatunga to Matiri (Meru – Kenya) and after the heartfelt prayer of Sister Katherine, cottolenghina, addressed to Sister Maria Carola, the little one suddenly began to breathe and now, after eight years, it continues to grow peacefully ».

The Superior General of the Sisters of SGB Cottolengo, Mother Elda Pezzuto , expresses the profound joy of all the Sisters of the Congregation for the good news! She particularly joins the gratitude of the Sisters of the Delegation of Africa to whom she asks to bring to the family of the miraculous child, little Msafiri Hilary Kiama, the splendid announcement together with a tender caress. “Let us continue the intercessory prayer to Sister Maria Carola more and more intensely”, Mother Elda underlines, “especially in this time of waiting for the birth of Jesus, so that every life may be desired, welcomed as a gift and loved in its uniqueness and originality. Deo gratias always! ».

“The news is a source of great joy throughout the Little House around the world”, underlines Father Carmine Arice , “we are sure that the Lord gives us the example of Sister Maria Carola, on her way to the altars, as a model for continuing to to be faithful to the charism of St. Joseph Benedetto Cottolengo in Italy and throughout the world ».

Special thanks go to the postulator Sr. Antonietta Bosetti who has worked in recent years with great dedication so that the canonization process could continue.

Turin, 13 December 2021