Death of Cenacle Community founder

Mother Elvira Petrozzi, Credit: Cenacle

Source: Cenacle Community

Mother Elvira Petrozzi, known as the 'Sister of the Addicts', died in Italy on 3 August. She founded the Cenacle Community, which specialises in helping drug addicts.

In a tribute, the Cenacle Community issued a statement on 3 August:

"When they say: 'Elvira has died!', you must sing, dance, celebrate… because I am alive!

Woe to you if you say: 'Poor her' No, not at all 'poor her! I will go on calmly and sing, I'm already singing! Something magnificent will open wide before me… life doesn't die!"

With these words repeated over the years, Sr Elvira Petrozzi, known as Mother Elvira, prepared her collaborators and the young people of the Cenacle Community for her passage into eternal life.

At the age of 86, surrounded by the prayer and affection of the entire "family" of the Community, Mother Elvira serenely returned to the Father's home. Her earthly pilgrimage ended at the House of Formation in Saluzzo where she lived the last years of her illness. This morning, 3 August 2023 at 3:50, surrounded by all the Sisters of the house in prayer, after finishing the singing of the Salve Regina, she opened her large, bright eyes and confidently surrendered herself to the merciful embrace of the Father and the tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Consumed by a life spent with extraordinary generosity and intensity in loving and serving the poor and the needy - especially the young and those lost in addictions and a meaningless life - and in her final years, bearing the Cross, Mother Elvira continued until the end with faith, determination, courage, and complete surrender to God, bearing witness to her immense love for life.

During the days of the Festival of Life held on the hill of Saluzzo 13-16 July, thousands of people, including young individuals, parents, and friends belonging to the "big family" of the Community, came from various parts of the world to celebrate its 40th anniversary. They gathered around her in intense prayer and deep affection to thank her and accompany her.

After the Festival, a river of people - young individuals from our fraternities and missions scattered around the world, "children" of the Community, friends, and parents - came to the House of Formation to bid her a final farewell, to give her a caress, a prayer, a kiss, and a thank you…. Together with you, we thank the Lord for this precious life that helped so many lives to be reborn, to find hope and the will to live!

In July 1983, she founded the first community of the Cenacle (Community Cenacolo) in an old 18th century house on a hill above Saluzzo, in Piedmont . She first wanted to create a community for marginalised young people, but the first to ask her for help were young drug addicts. The community is recognised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as a private international association of the faithful. Currently there are 72 houses present in 20 countries.