At 8 am today, Thursday, 18 January 2024, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Mass has been celebrated to close the Jubilee Year of the Vatican Pharmacy, in the Church of St Mary, Mother of the Family, of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.

As you may know, the 150th anniversary of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God's Mission in the Vatican (1874-2024) marked the beginning of a Jubilee Year (2023-2024) with a number of major events such as:

-                  Formation event and pilgrimage by the Co-workers of the Vatican Pharmacy to Granada, on June 08-11, 2023;

-                  The audience for the Brothers and Co-workers with Pope Francis, 18 September 2023;

-                  The souvenir stamps signed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Today, on 18 January 2024, the Closure Mass of the Jubilee Year has been celebrated as an act of thanksgiving,  and to wish the Hospitaller Order of St John of God an even better 150 years of service in the Vatican Pharmacy.

For, as the principal celebrant, His Eminence Card. Fernando Vergez Alzaga, President of the Governorate, has said: celebrating an anniversary is to offer best wishes for an even better future.

Concelebrating with him were: our Prior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, Brother. Dario Vermi, Superior of the General Curia, Brother. André, our Secretary General, and Father Iuliam, the chaplain of the Vatican Pharmacy.

Other enthusiastic worshippers at the celebration accompanied by a Vatican choir led by Father Ramón, assistant parish priest of St Anne's in Vatican City:

-                  The Secretary General of the Governorate, the Most Reverend Sister Raffaela Petrini and officials of the Vatican City State;

-                  Brother Joaquím, First General Councillor of the Order,

-                  Brother Binish, Superior and Director of the Vatican Pharmacy,

-                  The Brothers and Co-workers of the Vatican Pharmacy.

In his homily, Cardinal Fernando offered a beautiful account looking back over the history of the Vatican Pharmacy from its creation, and through its progress up to the present day. He was followed by words of thanks from the Prior General, Brother Jesús, who mentioned Pope Francis' speech to the Brothers and Co-workers of the Pharmacy at his audience on 18 September 2023.

The celebration culminated with the final blessing at around 9am followed by an agape breakfast in the Vatican Pharmacy meeting room.