Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga celebrates Holy Mass with employees of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems

With friendship and cooperation

He was known to everyone as “Father Fernando”, as he had not yet been created Cardinal. The then Father Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, joined the Directorate of Telecommunications, now known as the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, as Director in January 2008.

Remembering this bond, the employees and managers of the Directorate wished to greet him, by sharing a Eucharist celebration, on Thursday morning, 27 March, at the Governorate’s Church of Mary, Mother of the Family, presided by the Cardinal.

Fr. Felice Bruno, Office Manager of the Post and Philately Service and Fr. Alberto Fusi, Chaplain of the Directorate, concelebrated with the Cardinal with the assistance of Massimo Fiore, deacon, and Pauline Brother Michele Eriani.

Among those present were Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate, Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretary General, Mr. Antonino Intersimone, Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, and Mr. Luigi Salimbeni, Deputy Director.

The Eucharistic celebration was animated by the Choir of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, who serve at the Vatican telephone switchboard.

At the end of Holy Mass, Mr. Intersimone addressed a brief greeting to the Cardinal, on behalf of everyone, and gave him a pyx as a gift.

The following is Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga’s homily.

Dear Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate,

Dear Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretary General of the Governorate,

Dear Mr. Antonino Intersimone and Mr. Luigi Salimbeni, Director and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems,

Dear Office Managers, brothers and sisters and friends,

Allow me to offer a special greeting and my gratitude and recognition, to Fr. Alberto Fusi, your Chaplain for many years. Thank you Fr. Alberto.

It is a great joy for me to have been invited to celebrate this Mass with you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As you know, I served as Director of what was known as the Directorate of Telecommunications and is now known as the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, for 13 years, from its very beginning in January 2008 to 1 October 2021.

This is why I know many of you personally and I have had a close working relationship with all of you. We have shared many joyful moments as well as commitments. I was therefore very happy to accept the invitation to celebrate this Mass with all of you, to greet you and to thank you for your friendship and collaboration.

The passage from the Gospel of Luke we have just heard invites us to reflect on the power of Jesus, which is so strong that it is unsettling to some. It is true that faced with the miracles, the crowds admired him, but some were not satisfied. Essentially, they wanted to put the Lord to the test, and asked for more signs. They went as far as to request from Heaven, a confirmation of the authenticity of his miracles.

The evangelist describes two forces: that of God and that of the devil, as well as two attitudes, “with” or “against” Jesus. Why does this situation arise? Firstly, because the evidence is not believed, and hearts were not open to the action of the Holy Spirit. Some were not able to recognize “the finger of God” at work and his Kingdom.

The passage makes us reflect on the fact that we expect to influence God with our way of thinking and our expectations. We would like to teach the Lord how he should manifest himself according to our own desires.

Jesus asks us to choose which side we are on. He does not speak of believing in him, nor of loving him, but rather of “being with him”. Only by “being with him” can we experience communion and union. To “be against him” instead, is dispersive, divisive and condemning.

This is why communion and friendship are antidotes to Satan, who spreads discord and contaminates relationships, even in the workplace. In order to conquer the enemy, there is nothing to do but to remain united with Jesus. It is the only chance we have. Hence, the importance of prayer and the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist.

We are in the privileged Season of Lent, during a Jubilee Year. It is a propitious time for the conversion of our hearts, a year filled with God’s mercy that kindles hope in our lives, and allows us to journey on our pilgrimage together.

In the hope that you may create a workplace based on mutual understanding, I wish you all the best in your commitments, and ensure you of my prayers and that I will remember you when I celebrate Mass. May the Virgin Mary accompany you on this Lenten journey.

The following is Mr. Intersimone’s greeting to the Cardinal.

Firstly, I greet Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate,

Mr. Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretary General of the Governorate,

and all the employees of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, who have joined us here today,

I turn to you, Your Eminence,

Dear Father Fernando,

It is with sincere emotion that I speak on behalf of the employees of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, with gratitude and recognition for these years we have shared together under your leadership. You are an important reference point to us all, always open to listening and encouraging us to do more and to do better. You are a bright example, both because of the objectives you achieved and the way you faced the inevitable challenges that had to be dealt with and overcome.

We owe to you the birth of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, the “youngest” Directorate of the Governorate. It has grown so much in these years, in experience and in accepting new challenges, always accompanied by your benevolent and caring gaze.

This is one of those moments we hoped would never arrive. As a good Father, you leave us in excellent hands that will continue to support our intentions and daily work.

There are times like this in which there seem to be few but essential words. Thank you Father from me and on behalf of all my staff and our families with whom you shared many wonderful moments, for all you have given each one of us, which we will always carry in our hearts as an example and with great affection.

I take this opportunity to offer you this gift from all of us, to continue to feel mutually close in affection and prayer.