Welcome to this special mass in a very special year for Saint Philomena.

On behalf of the Universal Archconfraternity of St Philomena we extend a warm welcome to the Bishop of Nola.

Your Excellence, thank you for your presence here today to bless the oil of St Philomena. The Family of St Philomena worldwide has great respect for you and is indebted to you, particularly for your participation in this feast day.

The Holy Oil of St Philomena is one of the key features within the acts of the devotion. Worldwide this oil is being used in faith as a sacramental of St Philomena. More than ever there are many documented accounts of prayers answered through the intercession of the ever-famous "St Philomena Holy Oil".

Today is the opening of the celebrations of 2005. That is why this time, more than any other time, Your Excellence, - Fr Braschi - I thank you on behalf of all of us devotees of St Philomena who cannot always be here. We, the devotees understand how important the blessing of this Holy Oil is, it is one of the pillars on which St Philomena has become known throughout the world.

This day will be a historical day for the devotees of St Philomena and we should all be very honored to be here. St Philomena is not just a Saint to her devotees, she is a friend who walks with us through our journey in life, someone whom we can talk to easily, she is our very special friend who takes us closer to the love and the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Worldwide people are imploring the intercession of our Saint. Filomena Garcia who is present today and represents the Portugal centre, said "years ago in Portugal people where almost afraid to pray to St Philomena. But now the devotion has grown enormously". This is true of the devotion worldwide.

I would like to give a special thank you our host the Rector, Fr Giovanni Braschi. 200 years ago Don Franceso De Lucia, from Mugnano, brought St Philomena to this church and established devotion to her. It is no coincidence that Fr Braschi is also from this town and continues this work with the same fervent devotion. He has worked over the past 20 years to have the devotion to St Philomena flourish as it was then. He is the one who has worked through the lowest times within the devotion to establish, with numerous centres of devotion worldwide, the renewed Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena. He has also worked through these times to have greatly needed restoration work done to the Sanctuary. St Philomena chose well when she placed him as her custodian. Fr Braschi, thank-you for continuing to bring St Philomena to us. You have our eternal gratitude.

Thank you also to the Mayor of Mugnano, for your hospitality to the many devotees who come to the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary of St Philomena is why people are drawn to this town. We ask the Mayor and councillors of the administration to work in union with the Sanctuary, to resolve the outstanding problems, in order that pilgrims are accommodated comfortably. As a gift to St Philomena, who has given so much to this town, we ask that you resolve these matters in a positive way for her.

We also give special praise to Sister Bertilla for all the work she does including organizing the pilgrims centre for devotees. We realize that when we come here, that we have come to the home of St Philomena and we are united as a family.