The subordinate bodies of the Air Squad Command celebrated the anniversary on Tuesday 10th December. The 41st Anti-Submarine Wing of Sigonella celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Loreto at the Collegiate Basilica of Catania with a religious service officiated by H.E. Msgr. Pio Vittorio Vigo, Archbishop Emeritus of the diocese of Acireale, in the presence of the highest civil and military authorities of the Sicilian province. During the homily, Msgr. Vigo highlighted the spiritual efficiency of the men and women of the Air Force: “The higher you go, the more you understand the meaning of things, just as in our spiritual life., Reaching high altitudes represents the essentiality of things”The celebration of the Madonna di Loreto was also held at Rivolto Airport, home of the 2nd Wing and the 313th Acrobatic Training Group where, at the hangar of the “Frecce Tricolori” National Aerobatic Team, a Holy Mass was officiated for the important anniversary of the Patroness of aviators.
The Mass was officiated by H.E. Bruno Mazzocato, Archbishop of Udine, in the presence of civil and military authorities, veterans' and military associations, and personnel on duty at the Units of the Udine-Rivolto Air Force Garrison. The Mountain Air Force Centre at Monte Cimone also celebrated the Madonna of Loreto. The ceremony indeed saw a religious service officiated by H.E. Msgr. Germano Bernardini and military chaplain Don Pierino Sacella. Numerous authorities participated in the Mass, including the Vice President of the Province of Modena, the mayors of Sestola and Fanano, the Air Force Associations of Modena and Carpi, and some territorial representatives of the Armed Forces and State Armed Corps. A large representation of retired Air Force personnel participated in the service. After the Holy Mass, a votive shrine in honour of the Madonna of Loreto was inaugurated and blessed at the logistics base.
The celebration held at Aviano Air Base Command for the feast of Our Lady of Loreto provided the perfect occasion to inaugurate the Unit Church. The church, originally built in 1961, was reopened after renovations following significant damage sustained in 2006 when a severe storm violently affected several areas of the Pordenone region. The mass was officiated by the Bishop of the Diocese, Monsignor Giuseppe Pellegrini, in the presence of all the staff of the “Pagliano e Gori” unit and many local civil and military authorities. On the same day, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto was also celebrated at the 16th ”Force Protection” Wing in Martina Franca. Following a solemn flag-raising ceremony, the Unit personnel, along with local civil, religious, and military authorities present, gathered in the Wing's church to participate in the eucharistic ceremony officiated by the rector of the Basilica of San Martino, Monsignor Franco Semeraro.
