Church dedicated to Chiara Luce Badano an inspiration for Indian students

Msgr. Anthony Chirayath, bishop of the Syro-Malabar diocese of Sagar, consecrated the new church in the presence of the parents of Chiara Luce Badano, saying it was “an inspiration to all students in the country”. The couple arrived from Italy for the occasion at the invitation of the bishop. Many faithful and young students of local high schools, as well as groups of adherents to the Focolare Movement from Mumbai and Delhi, attended the ceremony.

Chiara Badano, named Chiara “Luce” by Chiara Lubich, founder of the Movement (or Work of Mary), was a young Italian, who died at the age of 18 from aggressive bone cancer. She was beatified on 25 September 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, who acknowledged her heroic virtues and tireless work for the poor, despite the pain of the disease from which she suffered.

The Sironi church was dedicated to the Blessed at the express will of Msgr. Chirayath, who learned of the life of Chiara Luce during one of his trips in Italy. Keeping in mind the large youth population that resides in the Indian town and who attend the prestigious English schools in the district, Bishop Sagar sensed that Chiara’s life could serve as an “example and inspiration for students.”

The celebrations were attended by Maria Teresa and Ruggero, the parents of the young Blessed, accompanied by her best friend Chicca Coriasco and her brother Franz Coriasco, who wrote Chiara Luce’s biography. Approximately 1,000 participants attended, including priests, religious, seminarians, teachers, high school students and young Focolare members, who organised performances to celebrate the event.

After the inauguration of the church, the parents and friends of Chiara Luce met some members of the Focolare Movement in Mumbai, eager to express their gratitude for the “witness of love and unity”. Also in Mumbai they had a meeting with “Jesusfriends4u”, a youth group inspired by the example of the life of the girl, who awarded the Badano’s the first prize dedicated to their daughter, the Effective Parenting Award.