My Fellow Devotees of St. Philomena, It is with great joy that I extend my most heartfelt thanks for your support of our new non-profit trust in the United States. I also want to thank you for supporting the Sanctuary through your online shopping. In the coming weeks, we will distribute an update on the projects that have been funded as a result of your contributions. We appreciate your outpouring of support as we work to maintain the earthly home of our beloved saint so that thousands of devotees from around the world can continue to enjoy comfortable accommodations during their pilgrimages. I also write with a heavy heart to share some very sad news about Sister Bertilla. She is very ill, and through the years has managed to fight off many cancerous tumors through the powerful intercession of our beloved saint. Even amidst her long and trying battle, she has devoted much of her life to the cause of St. Philomena and the Sanctuary often working with tremendous pain due to her declining health. She has grown very tired from her fight with cancer and sadly it is incurable. We are currently caring for Sister Bertilla by treating her pain and helping her rest until God calls her home to His Kingdom. She is staying in her room at the Sanctuary and receiving 24-hour care with a steady stream of visitors each day. Please remember her in your prayers as a member of the St. Philomena family. 
Sister Bertilla has been the rock behind the work at the Sanctuary all of these years. On August 5, 1986, she came to the Sanctuary and has spent the last 24 years working tirelessly for the good of the Sanctuary and devotion to St. Philomena offering many sacrifices to accomplish this work. Through her amazing help, the pilgrim center was transformed into a warm home for the family of St. Philomena – “her family,” as she fondly refers to all of you. Sister Bertilla has lived a life of dedicated service to her family and to God. She is the eldest of five children from a small fishing village in southern Italy and helped raise her younger siblings. From an early age she was a devotee of St. Philomena and celebrated our saint’s annual feast days in the community where she grew up. In 1953 at the age of 16, she took the name of Sister Bertilla and entered the religious order of the Sisters of the Disciples of the Eucharistic Jesus founded by Msg. Raphial del Nocche. At this tender age she began her work in various religious schools and institutions in southern Italy: Naples, Puglia, Potenza, Lecce, Marano de Napoli. She has several photo albums of her students and one photo album that she is particularly proud of includes all of the young people who went on to become priests and nuns in many different orders. While taking care of the frail and infirm in Marano de Napoli, Bishop Joseph Costansa, at my request for assistance at the Sanctuary, asked that Sister Bertilla be transferred to the Sanctuary. It was at that time that she came to the Sanctuary to welcome the pilgrims and assist the Rector. I have never seen anyone work as hard as Sister Bertilla in all of my years as Rector of the Sanctuary. I have often said that she does the work of 10 people. Her special gift has always been her warm hospitality that she so generously gives to all of the devotees. Even as her body began to become more and more frail, she continued to organize activities at the church, ensure it was clean and that fresh flowers were placed on the Altar of St. Philomena. She helped maintain the gift shop and general operations of the Sanctuary. She also lovingly made scapulars each evening. Her dedicated work in cooking and cleaning the pilgrim house and the many tasks she took upon herself to do with other volunteers has helped the Sanctuary financially by conserving significant costs. She truly has one of the most generous hearts and illuminating souls of anyone I know. Through some of the hardest times that I have faced at the Sanctuary, she has always been a pillar of strength and has driven our work forward. Without her assistance, we would never have been able to continue to operate on such a limited budget through the years. I gratefully acknowledge all of Sister Bertilla’s beautiful service to Christ and to St. Philomena. I have asked some of those who have been recipients of Sister Bertilla’s hospitality and service through the years to add a few words about her below my letter. As we enter into the wonder and special time of Advent I implore you to look at those less fortunate just as Jesus did in His life on earth. Take this time to offer your hand to those in need, and to support your parish priest whose duties at this time of year are extraordinary. It is our priests who so lovingly help us celebrate the arrival of the Christ Child. Our celebrations would not be possible without them. Remember the poor and the hungry and share your bounty and blessings generously with them. Try to walk in the steps of Jesus and see other souls as He did through His divine eyes. I will pray each day at the Sacred Altar of St. Philomena for you throughout this special time of year. I give thanks to Our Lord for my priesthood, for the work of Sister Bertilla, and for coming to know all of the many devotees of St. Philomena who have entered the doors of the Sanctuary and who have shown me so much kindness. I would like to also share a story about a prayer answered that was just sent to me from Canton, Ohio. Let us rejoice together at the miraculous intercessory power of our saint. A Miracle Baby!
“While my husband and I were travelling in the Alpine region of Europe in the third week of September 2010, we received shocking news from my son, David, that his wife, our daughter-in-law, was nearing her due date for the birth of their baby boy. Unfortunately, the baby was in breech position (upside down) in the womb. The next day, David e-mailed us that doctors would try to turn the baby, and if it was not successful, the doctors would have to perform an emergency C-Section. This was set for October 5 at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. As soon as we received this news, I began praying to St. Philomena. I begged her asking her to intercede so that the baby would turn little by little up to 180 degrees. I found churches everywhere we visited and lighted a candle in each one. I repeated the same prayers over and over: St. Philomena, powerful with God, pray for the baby to turn himself so that his mom can have a healthy delivery. Amen. On the night of October 5, I prayed to Almighty God to handle this and went to bed. While I was sleeping, in the middle of the night I heard a new born baby crying loudly in my ear and I woke up. I excitedly told my husband that David’s baby was born. The time was 3:30 a.m. in Bern, Switzerland. I couldn’t sleep anymore because I was so excited! My son David called me exactly one hour later and said that the baby turned himself and was born naturally without a C-section. This was a miracle. I said, Alleluia! Thank God! Thank You, St. Philomena! She listened to my prayers. This is a miracle baby”
I would like to extend a very special Thanksgiving blessing to all volunteers throughout the world who help further the cause of St. Philomena. We are all united as members of the Body of Christ. We especially thank Our Lord for the Holy Eucharist, which means “Thanksgiving.” Through the celebration of the Eucharist we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for our salvation and of His love for each one of us which endures forever. There is no greater gift than Jesus in the Eucharist. Please remember that you can write and or email me. I will respond in the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. All correspondence is confidential and replied to by the Rector. With love and devotion,
Monsignor Giovanni Braschi.
More about Sister Bertilla from devotees from around the world: From Mary McAndrew, Taylors Lakes VIC, Australia A Nun’s Life Ministry is founded on the belief that each person is called by God to a vocation that enriches the individual and benefits the world. A Nun’s Life helps people discover and grow in their vocation, that is, their life’s calling, by engaging questions about God, faith, and religious life.
Sister Bertilla certainly answers her call from God to be present in the world and yet not of the world. She takes on the role of Mother, to all who enter into the Sanctuary. She teaches, feeds, and attends to the needs of Pilgrims, providing for them comfortable living quarters. She supports Father Braschi in his role as Spiritual Director and Rector of the Sanctuary of St. Philomena. She attends to the daily running of the Sanctuary as her pride and joy. She extends to all, a warm concern for their wellbeing whilst visiting Mugnano del Cardinale. Sister Bertilla has suffered with ill health many times over the years I have known her, but I have never heard of her complaining and to me she never expressed through facial expressions or otherwise her dismay to such sufferings. She is indeed a great example of living her life united to the sufferings of Christ for the redemption of many.
Get Well Prayer from Australia Lord Jesus, hear our heartfelt prayer through the intercession of The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Philomena for the healing of our beloved friend, Sister Bertilla. We pray for your mercy, Your compassion, Your grace and Your love, in making her whole and well once more. Make the work of those treating and helping her full of Your perfection, and grant her a quick and complete recovery. Lead and guide those around her to provide what she needs: encouragement, assistance, prayers, support and especially love.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you will wrap Your loving arms around her, giving her comfort, strength and peace, drawing her ever closer to You through her daily sufferings. In You, she places all her trust and is united to You through her suffering.
She defends the truth and makes amends for all wrong doings.
Through You, with You and in You, we make this prayer. Amen.
From Fr. Enda, Knock, Ireland I thought she was not too good when I was there in August but we had a cup of Coffee and a small chat. She was always so kind on the many occasions I was there especially when she was in better health. I phoned Joan in England who was very upset to hear the news and assures her of her constant prayers. She remembers one visit when Sr. Bertilla fed us and produced a lovely glass of wine to wash the food down. Despite the language barrier we managed to have a lovely conversation in our own way. You have a photograph of us four on that occasion. Joan will constantly send and make the Cords and she said to tell you there are another150 en route. She says there is a prayer in every stitch, as she makes them. She is glad you got the last lot. God comfort you all in this sad time and if this is Sr. Bertilla's time she will get a great welcome from Him and of course Our Lady of Grace and dear St. Philomena. I humbly ask Sr.Bertilla's prayers for myself and all I deal with in the Confessional at Knock. From Edna and Michael Gibson, Brea, California, United States
We are broken hearted to learn of Sister Bertilla's final illness. We love Sister Bertilla very , very , much and life will not be the same without her.
I am offering up all of my prayers and sufferings for Sister Bertilla. Would you please tell Sister Bertilla that Me, Mike, Mom, Mary, Eileen, and all of my brothers and sisters are praying for her and her special intentions.
We will write something for the newsletter tomorrow, I am too sad today to write. But please tell Sister Bertilla how much I love her and miss her. Please Tell her before her pain is so great that she will not be able to hear you.
From Jim and Joan Connaghan, Northern Ireland Dear Fr. Braschi I thank you very much for letting us know of the condition of Sr. Bertilla that in itself means a lot for we are all included in the family of St. Philomena and what affects one member affects us all. Joan and myself have known Sr. Bertilla for about 6 years and have seen the love she has for St. Philomena through all the work she did in the sanctuary, every thing was done with the mind of presenting our dear little Saint to the world with devotion in her heart, to show people just how wonderful St. Philomena is. The flowers at the altar arranged beautifully. Sr. Bertilla worked very long and hard looking after so many things at the sanctuary which people did'nt know, but this was all worth while to her and during the feast days the smile she had said it all. It is also a very difficult time for you Fr. as sister looked after so many details for you and kept you in place when you needed to. Sr Bertilla is now facing the point in life which we will all face at some point and I would say there are two women waiting Our Lady and St. Philomena to thank her for her love and praise to the Divinity of God. Joan and myself will keep her in our prayers and all at the sanctuary of Saint Philomena.
From Filomena Garcia, Portugal Once upon a time, many years ago, a Portuguese forty years old woman, visited Saint Philomena's Sanctuary for the first time. St. Philomena was her Godmother because of her mother's promise before she was born. When she arrived and kneeled in front of St. Philomena's Sacred Body, she started to cry compulsively without manage to stop. Suddenly, in silence, a nun approached the Saint Philomena Altar, took both of the lady's hands between hers and said :" Stop crying, my child! Saint Philomena is joy! Where are you coming from? Come with me!" ( she toook the lady to know the Rector of the Sanctuary) . She seems to me - I was the portuguese woman- for sure, like she was my sister in Christ, almost an Angel to dry my tears and to pacify my soul. Since that day, sister Bertilla was indeed my sister in Christ and family to me. And since that day I go to Mugnano 2 or 3 times a year and stay there for one week or more. It please me so good to be at my Godmother's house and to be with my family. Sister Bertilla used to say that St. Philomena's Sanctuary is my home too and we used to have so many and long heart-to-heart talk. She used to work a lot at the Sanctuary. She did everything: in the kitchen, in the rooms, in the gift room, inside the church and she found the time to arrange and organize the Princess's devotion articles. What a woman! I felt, indeed, at home! I used to help her, a little bit here, a little bit there. She always asked me to help her, as truly sisters. And as sisters we used to call once or twice a week. A few years ago sister Bertilla caught that incurable disease but never stops to fight, and to fight... Even with such pain she continued to work. I'm her witness because I saw it so many times. Even in the last August when I was at the Sanctuary. During the last few years, we called each other often. I visited her at Naples's hospital; it was her turn to cry when she saw me! In the year of 2004 my mother died and in the 2008 I was operated at a tumour in my brain. I always could count on sister Bertilla's support, love and prayers. Even far away I could feel her presence near by me. She used to say to me : " Filomena, troppo lontano, però troppo vicino!"
And that is a story of friendship, respect and love between two truly friends, sisters of soul. I Would like to end with her words: "So far away and too close!"
From Marjie Truax, Georgia, United States When I met Sister Bertrilla, an adage that I had heard some years before came to mind. "If you want to get something done, find an Italian nun."
Sister was that kind of dedicated servant of the Lord. We saw her as the 'mother' of the St. Philomena Shrine family. Always on the go and ever 'on the job', she treated the constantly streaming pilgrims as her special charges. She made sure that their rooms were ready and their meals tasty. Sister did not speak the dozens of languages that she heard echoing throughout the Shrine on feast days. She did not need to. She had 'gelato'. With it, she welcomed the weary in motherly fashion and all understood. Armed with gelato and above all with prayer, Sister comforted the countless numbers of hurting visitors to the Shrine, her home on earth. Our family cannot thank her enough.
From Richard Donley Fox, Phoenix, Arizona, United States I first met Sister Bertilla in January 2005. I went a week before the ceremony of the blessing of the oil to spend some time with Father Braschi so we could get acquainted. I am the webmaster who built the .us site you now see, representing the sanctuary. It is clear from the many years both Father Braschi and Sister Bertilla have spent at the Sanctuary that they are the heart and soul of the place. I see Sister Bertilla as the Mother of the Sanctuary taking care of the children who come visit. Every evening, it was just the three of us for supper, Fr. Sr. and me. I will tell you that I have never eaten such good Italian food in my life. I told her to pack up her bags, I was taking her back to Phoenix and we are going to open an Italian restaurant. With her cooking, we will get rich! She just squealed in laughter. But the truth of the matter is, nobody is a better cook than Sister Bertilla. I had never tasted before, nor since, food of the quality she served us that week. The next time I met Sister Betilla was when I was invited to speak at the conference in Rome on St. Philomena in April, 2005. That January was the first they realized that she had cancer and by April it was obvious she was not well. Clearly she has put up the Good Fight all these years since. I will always remember Sister Bertila with deep fondness in my heart. Thru it all, over the years, it was her love that was constant, never changing and she was the one that always showed love towards me and I will never forget her for that.
Share Your Devotion with Others This Christmas! 1. Spend more than $100 through the online shop and receive a gift to share with a friend (choose from 5 relic cards, 2 small statues or 10 medals). 2. Spend more than $40 and receive our newest prayer card free. 3. Send a donation as a gift to one of your loved ones or friends and receive a special gift card with a second class relic. 4. Enroll your loved ones in the Archconfraternity of St. Philomena this year so they can begin receiving the many spiritual benefits. 5. Have a Mass said for one of your loved ones or friends this Christmas or send a gift of thanksgiving for answered prayers or prayer requests. One hundred percent of every contribution made to the Sanctuary and through the online shop go directly toward the upkeep of the Sanctuary. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to spreading devotion to St. Philomena. You will always be remembered in the prayers of the Sanctuary.
Christmas Special Offers From Our Shop Christmas Special Offer 01:Wooden Picture of St Philomena 
Hand Made exquisite wooden picture of St Philomena with
cream and gold plated paint edging, depicting the tiles with the markings
on the tomb of St Philomena.
with complimentary rosary beads and prayer card of Miraculous statue
Special price of $86 Click here to see it in our shop Christmas Special Offer 02: Wooden Plaque 
Wooden Plaque
Beatifully made wooden plaque layered with
terrecota type stone and glass front
- depicting St. Philomena as she was discovered
in the catacobs of St.Pricila
with two sets of wooden rosary beads free
Special Price of $37 Click here to see it in our shop
Help Support the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena
Home to St Philomena devotees worldwide If you can, please send a donation, if not pray for the works of the Sanctuary, tell people about them and spread the devotion to our Little Saint. Ways to send a donation If you are able to send a donation please use these methods By personal check payable to the "Sanctuary of St. Philomena" and make sure to send it through registered or express mail to the Sanctuary's address which is at the bottom of this newsletter. Online with credit card or through www.Paypal.com to the Sanctuary's
e-mail address: SantaFilomena@philomena.it you will find further information and full procedure on our web site under the heading donate or by clicking the following donation button. By bank transfer to the Sanctuary's Bank account:
SANTUARIO SANTA FILOMENA
BANCA DELLA CAMPANIA – fil n° 0007
BANK ACCOUNT: n° 1279013
SWIFT CODE: BPMOIT22
IBAN: IT19L0539275790000001279013 For U.S. Donations - For the U.S. devotees that wish to make a tax deductible donation to Archconfraternity of St. Philomena, this may be mailed to:
Archconfraternity of St. Philomena
1970 Bridle Ridge Trace
Roswell, GA. 30075-2162 , USA
You will receive a letter of acknowledgment and thanks when your donation is received.
Santuario Santa Filomena
83027 Mugnano del Cardinale
Avellino, Italy
tel:011 39 081 825 7204
fax:011 39 081 511 2733
http://www.philomena.it
e-mail:SantaFilomena@philomena.it | 
