MONSIGNOR
DOMINGO SALVADOR CASTAGNA, BISHOP OF SAN NICOLAS (1984-1995)
When Monsignor Domingo Salvador Castagna arrived at San Nicolas in
October 1984, being his first diocese as titular bishop, he
was faced to a series of extraordinary events (apparitions and messages)
and to an increasing movement of marian devotion. Immediately, and with
caution, he put himself to the task of discerning pastorally the
facts and leading the devotion of the believers.
He is a genuine man marked by integrity and uprightness of
character and by free, fortright and sincere expression as well as by strength
and vigor.
In the message of May 31st 1986, there is a special reference
of the Blessed Virgin to the Bishop of San Nicolas.
Gladys wrote:
"While
praying for the priests, I see the Blessed Virgin and She says to
me:
" My beloved priests will begin to seed, they will make the great
sowing of the Word of God, I will be near to them, watering the sowing.
My
daughter, I have been waiting for this during a very long time. I will
take care of your Bishop since he will have to do the greater effort of
leading this part of the Lord's flock. Happy are the children
who put their hearts in this mission. Amen, amen "(Nº887)
"The conductor of this part of the flock", confronted to the question if
he personally thaught that the Blessed Virgin was appearing in such
an extraordinary way in St.Nicholas, pronounced himself as follows:
" I firmly believe that this is an event of the Blessed Virgin (...).
I cannot say more than what the Church says. The Church puts all this between
parenthesis. She neither rejects nor defines that it is true, but
simply says: "look: it can be true, therefore we take it respectfully
" and there is no element that may say it is not true, on the contrary,
the existing elements are positive (...) Then I say the same... Evidently
this is a manifestation promoted by God through the Blessed Virgin ".
Ever since February 25th 1986, the 25th of each month, there is a
procession that culminates with the celebration of the Holy Mass in " the
Campito ". The first procession and celebration of the Holy Mass was in
charge of Monsignor Roberto Mancuso, general vicar of the diocese. The
second procession, on March 25th 1986, was presided for the first time
by Mons. Castagna. Since then he presided over this celebration until the
25th of August 1995, when he was designated as Archbishop of Corrientes.
In his first homily in "the Campito", on March 25th 1986, the Bishop
said:
" Our Lady of the Rosary in this old and beautiful image, has conquered
the hearts of great multitudes; through Her mediation God is spilling
innumerable graces that, instead of ceasing, seem to multiply providencially
(...).
The criteria, guaranteed by practices of centuries, that prime in the careful
and prolonged observation of all the events, encourage us to recognize
the 'passage of God' in the presence of the Blessed Virgin and, consequently,
without stopping to maintain a close monitoring on the indicated
phenomena, animate the devotion, preside over the believers
in their constant and catholic prayer and constitute this as a place
of special cult, that the popular devotion itself has consecrated
"
MONSIGNOR
JORGE LÓPEZ,
ARCHBISHOP
OF ROSARIO
On November 27th 1987, Monsignor Jorge López, Archbishop of Rosario,
went to San Nicolas (the diocese of San Nicholas is a suffragan of the
Archdiocese of Rosario). The 11th of December 1987 he
wrote:
"... it has been the visit of the Metropolitan Archbishop, (...) in order
to attest my support and adhesion to the norms and directions of the dear
Bishop of San Nicolas, Mons. Domingo Salvador Castagna, about the apparitions
and messages that the Most Blessed Virgin has been manifesting constantly
for a long time through Mrs. Gladys de Motta, neighbor of this city (...).
The reality of these extraordinary things of a spiritual order has
prevailed by themselves without precipitations that would be out of place."
THE
ATTITUDE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
All the studies made on the events of San Nicolas
were duly sent to the Holy See.
In the interview that Mons. Castagna maintained with H.H. John Paul II,
in November 1989 he spoke about the marian events, their importance,
characteristics and discernment. The Holy Father was very interested on
the matter.
Mons.Castagna describes as follows his meetings
with His Holiness and the attitude of John Paul II in relation to the apparitions
of San Nicolas:
In
1987 I was with the Pope for the first time, since 1985. This was
the first time that he spoke to me on this subject. There were other
bishops there, but when he identified me, he said to me: ' la Virgen'
(the Virgin), then I spoke to him about the subject, and told him
that I was sending him all the information (...). The investigation was
very, very exhaustive. It was totally sent to the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith (...). Later, in 1989, in the meeting '
ad limina' we spoke for fifteen minutes on the subject (...),
practically the object of our private hearing was the subject of the Virgin
".
FATHER
CARLOS A.PEREZ
RECTOR
OF THE SANCTUARY
The rector of the Sanctuary talks about the
question of the official recognition of the apparitions by the Church authorities
and explains:
" After Vatican Concilium II there have been concrete norms about
apparitions and the Holy See, following these norms, gives much inherence,
much autonomy to the bishops of each region, of each diocese where
these events occur.
(...) the answer of the Holy See has been absolutely favorable in the sense
that we continue working within the criteria already established
(...).
That is to say, the Holy See is absolutely informed of everything referring
to the marian apparitions, and there has been no intervention (in
these cases there would have been intervention if some important conflict
or some situation difficult to discern had appeared).
Afortunately,
thanks to God and the Blessed Virgin, everything went smoothly and with
much prudence and much pastoral wisdom on the part of the Bishop, so, the
intervention was not necessary ".
Father Pérez defines the Pope's attitude
in relation to the events of San Nicolas, as "totally positive ". He remembers
in addition that, in any case, being a private revelation, a "declaration
of authenticity (...) would not transform it in a dogma. People would equally
be without the obligation to believe. (...)
The important thing is all the support that the Bishop has given to the
pastoral events, and to the consequences of the revelation itself. If a
fact comes from God, the normal thing is that this is seen in the fruits
that the event produces.
When the fruits are prayer, conversion, the approach to God, to sacramental
life, and this is evident here, then the Bishop channels the faith of the
people called to respond to God (...)
Then,
the declaration on the authenticity of the apparitions go to a secondary
place. Indirectly one is saying that if the fruits are good then the tree
is good too ".
Father Perez emphasizes, in addition, that the pastoral
action of the Bishop in the discernment of the facts is recognized
like an exemplary work:
"Father Trucco, who is president of the Commission of Sanctuaries
of Latin America, on two ocassions, one in Ecuador and later in Rome, has
presented the case of San Nicolas as an example of pastoral conduction.
Also, a cardinal of the Church (that he didn't identify) said that sometimes
in these cases there are mistakes by excess or defect and that in this
case, he observes these facts as something very calm and well conducted".
MONSIGNOR
MARIO LUIS B. MAULIÓN
On July 9th 1995 the new Bishop, Monsignor Mario Luis Bautista Maulión
took possession of the Diocese of San Nicolas, and from that moment on
he presided over the celebrations that every 25th of each month are celebrated
in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolas.
On September 25th 1997, he said in his homily in "the Campito":
"St. Nicholas is today the heart of the Faith of our country and also of
brother countries. In the darkened horizon in which we live, the Blessed
Virgin, from San Nicolas, is the Light of Hope for this world."
MOST
REVEREND BISHOPS WHO HAVE VISITED THE SANCTUARY OF "OUR LADY OF THE
ROSARY" OF SAN NICOLAS AND WHO CELEBRATED THE HOLY MASS THERE
25/02/1987
Monsignor Bernardo Enrique Witte
Bishop
of Concepción (Tucumán)
25/03/1987 Monsignor Alfredo Guillermo Disandro
Bishop of Villa Maria
09/05/1987
Monsignor Jesus Arturo Roldán
being to this date Auxiliary Bishop of Córdoba
16/05/1987 Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
25/06/1987
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
27/06/1987
Monsignor Elmer Osmar Miani
being to this date Auxiliary Bishop of Córdoba
08/09/1987 Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
21/09/1987 Monsignor Carlos Galán
being to this date Auxiliary Bishop of Morón
09/10/1987
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
14/11/1987 Monsignor Desiderio Elso Collino
Bishop of Lomas de Zamora
19/11/1987
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
23/12/1987
Monsignor Rubén Hector Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
26/12/1987
Monsignor Emilio Bianchi Di Cárcano Bishop of Azul
11/02/1988 Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
20/03/1988
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
25/04/1988
Monsignor Alfredo Guillermo Disandro Bishop of Villa Maria
07/05/1988
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
13/06/1988
Monsignor Alfredo Guillermo Disandro Bishop of Villa Maria
25/06/1988
Monsignor Abelardo Francisco Silva
being
to this date Bishop of Presidencia Roque
Sáenz
Peña (Chaco)
13/08/1988
Monsignor Alfredo Mario Espósito
Castro
Bishop Emeritus of Zárate-Campana
23/08/1988
Monsignor Jose Agustín Marozzi
Bishop
Emeritus of Resistencia (Chaco)
25/08/1988
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
09/10/1988
Monsignor Vartan Waldir Boghossian
Bishop
Eparchy San Gregorio De Narek in Buenos Aires
25/11/1988
Monsignor Mario Luis Bautista Maulión
being
to this date Auxiliary Bishop of Rosario
25/11/1988
Monsignor Oscar Felix Villena
being
to this date Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of
Rosario
06/05/1989
Monsignor Luis Héctor Villalba
Bishop
of San Martín
06/05/1989
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
23/05/1989
Monsignor José Agustín Marozzi
Bishop
Emeritus of Resistencia (Chaco)
07/06/1989
Monsignor Omar Felix Colome
Bishop
of Cruz del Eje
24/06/1989
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
06/07/1989
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
20/01/1990
Monsignor Octavio Nicholas Derisi
Titular
archbishop
of Chato
24/02/1990
Monsignor Carlos Galán
being
to this date Auxiliary Bishop of Morón
05/05/1990
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
11/05/1990
Monsignor Arnaldo Canale
(died
30-7-90) Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires
25/09/1990
Monsignor Andrés Rubio
Bishop
of Mercedes - Uruguay
25/09/1990
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
25/09/1990
Monsignor Abelardo Francisco Silva
being
to this date Bishop of Presidencia Roque
Sáenz
Peña (Chaco)
22/11/1990
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
23/11/1990
Monsignor Norberto Eugene Martina
Military
Ordinary Bishop
07/04/1991
Monsignor Jose Maria Arancibia
Archbishop
Coadjutor de Mendoza
08/06/1991
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
bishop Emérito of Buenos Aires
10/06/1991
Monsignor Manuel Menéndez
Emérito
bishop of San Martín
23/06/1991
Monsignor Norberto Eugenio Martina
Military
Ordinary Bishop
25/08/1991
Monsignor Emilio Ogñenovich
Bishop
of Mercedes-Luján
25/08/1991
Monsignor Heberto Celso Angelo
(died
18-1-1993), Auxiliary Bishop of
Mercedes
16/11/1991
Monsignor Jorge Manuel Lopez
being
to this date Archbishop of Rosario
16/11/1991
Monsignor Mario Luis BautistaMaulión being to this date Auxiliary
Bishop of Rosario
15/03/1992
Monsignor Agustín Adolfo Herrera
Bishop
Emeritus of San Francisco
07/05/1992
Monsignor Albino Mensa
Archbishop
of Vercelli-Italy
01/08/1992
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
16/09/1992
Monsignor Emilio Bianchi Di Carcano Bishop of Azul
15/10/1992
Monsignor Omar Félix Colome
Bishop
of Cruz del Eje
25/10/1992
Monsignor Norberto Eugenio Martina
Military
Ordinary Bishop
30/10/1992
Monsignor Paulino Reale
Bishop
of Venado Tuerto - (Santa Fe)
07/11/1992
Monsignor Oscar Felix Villena
being
to this date Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of
Rosario
03/12/1992
Monsignor Rubén Héctor Di Monte
Bishop
of Avellaneda
20/03/1993
Monsignor Ramón Artemio Staffolani Bishop of Río Cuarto
21/03/1993
Monsignor Jorge Gottau
(died
2-4-94), Bishop of Añatuya
27/03/1993
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
07/06/1993
Monsignor Alcides Jorge Pedro
Casaretto
Bishop of San Isidro
22/08/1993
Monsignor Paulino Reale
Bishop of Venado Tuerto - (Santa Fe)
04/09/1993
Monsignor Norberto Eugenio Martina Military Ordinary Bishop
22/09/1993
Monsignor Abelardo Francisco Silva
being
to this date Bishop of Presidencia Roque
Sáenz
Peña (Chaco)
25/09/1993
Monsignor Jorge Manuel López
being
to this date Archbishop of Rosario
13/11/1993
Monsignor Baldomero Carlos Martín Bishop of San Francisco
24/11/1993
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
02/12/1993
Monsignor Carlos Talavera
Bishop
of Coatzacoalcos - Mexico
23/01/1994
Monsignor Jose Charbel Merhi
Bishop
of the Maronite Rite
24/02/1994
Monsignor Jorge Arturo Meinvielle
Bishop
of San Justo
09/03/1994
Monsignor Pedro Luis Ronchino
Bishop
of Comodoro Rivadavia
15/04/1994
Monsignor Omar Felix Colome
Bishop
of Cruz del Eje
31/04/1994
Monsignor Alexander Buccolini
Bishop
of Río Gallegos
28/05/1994
Monsignor Alcides Mendoza Castro
Archbishop
of Cuzco - Peru
02/06/1994
Monsignor Domingo Salvador Castagna Archbishop
of Corrientes
22/06/1994
Monsignor Jorge Manuel Lopez
being
to this date Archbishop of Rosario
26/06/1994
Monsignor Desiderio Elso Collino
Bishop
of Lomas de Zamora
18/07/1994
His Eminence, Cardinal Juan Carlos
Aramburu
Archbishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
31/07/1994
Monsignor Eduardo Vicente Mirás
Archbishop
of Rosario
06/08/1994
Monsignor Juan Jose Iriarte
Archbishop
Emeritus of Resistencia
13/08/1994
Monsignor Mario Luis Bautista Maulión being to this date Auxiliary
Bishop of Rosario
08/09/1994
Monsignor Justo Oscar Laguna
Bishop
of Morón
10/09/1994
Monsignor Norberto Eugenio Martina
Military
Ordinary Bishop
22/09/1994
Monsignor Jorge Manuel López
being
to this date Archbishop Emeritus of
Rosario
25/09/1994
Monsignor Domingo Salvador Castagna Archbishop
of Corrientes
12/10/1994
Monsignor Alejo Benedicto Gilligan
Bishop Emeritus of 9 de Julio
16/10/1994
Monsignor Norberto Eugenio Martina
Military
Ordinary Bishop
25/10/1994
Monsignor Eduardo Vicente Mirás Archbishop of Rosario
10/11/1994
Monsignor Alexander Buccolini
Bishop
of Río Gallegos
25/11/1994
Monsignor Antonio Fortunato Rossi
Archbishop
Emeritus of Corrientes
11/12/1994
Monsignor Domingo Salvador Castagna Archbishop
of Corrientes
25/03/1995
Monsignor Alfredo Guillermo Disandro Bishop of Villa Maria
13/04/1995
Monsignor Adolfo Roque Esteban Arana Bishop Emeritus de Río Cuarto
25/04/1995
Monsignor Lucas Luis Donelly
Bishop
Prelate of Dean Funes
13/05/1995
Monsignor Guillermo Leaden
Auxiliary
Bishop Emeritus of Buenos Aires
08/07/1995
Monsignor Alcides Jorge Pedro
Casaretto
Bishop of San Isidro
09/07/1995
Monsignor Jose Lorenzo Sartori
Bishop
of San Roque (Chaco)
10/07/1995
Monsignor Domingo Salvador Castagna
Archbishop
of Corrientes
10/07/1995
Monsignor Ramon Artemio Staffolani
Bishop
of Río Cuarto
10/07/1995
Monsignor Emilio Bianchi Di Carcano
Bishop
of Azul
10/07/1995
Monsignor Abelardo Francisco Silva
Bishop
of San Miguel
ECCLESIASTIC
DIGNITARIES WHO HAVE VISITED THE SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF THE
ROSARY OF SAN NICOLAS AND CELEBRATED MASS THERE IN VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES
Monsignor
Fabriciano Sigampa. Bishop of La Rioja.
Monsignor
Jose Víctor Tommasi. Bishop of 9 de
Julio.
Monsignor
Juan Rodolfo Laise. Bishop of San Luis.
Monsignor
Jose Manuel Lorenzo (died
12-11-1994).
Bishop of San Miguel.
Monsignor
Sabatino Héctor Cardelli. Auxiliary
Bishop
of Rosario
ECCLESIASTIC
DIGNITARIES
THAT
HAVE VISITED THE SANCTUARY
OF
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OF SAN NICOLAS
Papal
Nuncio, His Reverend Eminence Monsignor Ubaldo Calabresi.
Monsignor
Estanislao E. Karlic, Archbishop of
Parana.
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