Little Eden receives la Madonna
The statue of La Madonna della Cornabusa celebrates the connection between Little Eden and Italy, the place of birth of Domitilla.
During their recent visit to South Africa, delegates from Associazione Domitilla Rota Hyams Onlus in Italy presented Little Eden Society with a statue and relic.
The delegates gave the society a replica statue of La Madonna della Cornabusa (Our Lady of Cornabusa), as well as a relic from St Pope John XXIII.
Nichollette Muthige, public relations and communications officer of the society, said the Onlus is a registered NGO established in Italy for the support of Little Eden in Europe.
The statue was brought from Italy by the President of the Associazione Domitilla Rota Hyams Onlus, Giuliano Rota Martir.
Nichollette said Giuliano, together with other representatives from the Onlus, attended the Inaugural Danny and Domitilla Hyams Memorial Lecture on May 1.
The lecture was held to celebrate the lives and work of Little Eden’s founders, Danny and Domitilla Hyams.
The replica statue will remain at Little Eden’s Elvira Rota Village, Bapsfontein.
The original statue of La Madonna della Cornabusa is displayed in the Cornabusa Sanctuary in Italy, about 20km from Almenno San Bartolomeo in the province of Bergamo, Italy, where Domitilla grew up.
The Bishop of Bergamo, Rt Rev Francesco Beschi, who was represented by Rev Monsignor Gianluca Salvi at the event, also presented a relic of St Pope John XXIII.
Nichollette said the relic was a piece taken from his garment.
This was given to to Lucy Slaviero, CEO of Little Eden, as a token of appreciation for the work carried out by the organisation.
“The replica La Madonna della Cornabusa is about 50cm high and has a base of 30 x 30cm. The original wooden statue was discovered in the 1400s by a deaf-mute girl who miraculously got back both her voice and her hearing after she was hiding in the cave where the statue was hidden,” said Nichollette.
She said today there is a shrine in this cave where thousands of people go every year to pray.
“The statue of La Madonna della Cornabusa celebrates the connection between Little Eden and Italy, the place of birth of Domitilla,” said Nichollette.
As a young girl, Domitilla visited the sanctuary regularly.
For more information about Little Eden and the care it provides to 300 children and adults with profound intellectual disability, contact Nichollette on 011 609 7246 or at marketing@littleeden.org.za.
