Cottolengo day Special

Every year Cottolengo Day is celebrated in colours. We witness the showcasing of talent, love for education, creativity at its best. Some of the poems that remain relevant and interesting include a collection by Nicholas, now Fr. Nicholas. We have posted these two poems that revealed the depths of Cottolengo Spirituality.

COTTOLENGO, STAY WITH US
The road is merciless; it’s covered with stones,
But pilgrims arrive, they arrive in thousands,
The strong as well as the weak arrive,
With their young and old.
Some with swollen legs for having walked.
O dear Cottolengo serve us!

The heart of the pilgrims
is longing, waiting, expecting –all for your voice.
And you tell us: Caritas Christi Urget Nos!
We learn to stay with you:
Checking first the kingdom of God.
O dear Cottolengo, stay with us!

They all shout in unison,
“let’s go to the shrine of love,
the sanctuary of charity.”
They exclaim, “We can’t win the world without love.
Friends, stop and bow at the shrine of love”.
O dear Cottolengo, pray with us!

Pilgrims are arriving, they arrive every hour.
“Simama hapa”, they say.
“Fermati qua,” they chorus.
Look, there’s a long trail of pilgrims.
Longing, waiting, expecting – all for your voice.
O dear Cottolengo, stay with us!

Now we know of your presence,
You’ve the sense of paternity,
a fatherhood of its kind.
Cottolengo, stay with us,
Serve us, pray with us and for us!

Deo Gratias!
Kirimo Nicholas, ssc
2005
Help us carry the cross, Lord.

Help us, aid us carry the cross,
The hour of trial‘s near for us,
And the pangs of pain and sacrifice,
Must be our companion always.
Lord, that Cottolengo School may shine always.

Our cares in this world are null,
It’s the concern of your will
That we seek, we explore, we search.
When we walk this path in search;
May we find your will,
Lord, that Cottolengo School may shine always.

Wondering if God, you’ll shake our hands,
Somehow we feel that in your hand are ours.
Funny! Yes, extraordinary is your love,
We know that we shall have,
Your all-consoling presence.
Lord, that Cottolengo School may shine always.

Though we weren’t friendly to you,
As our Saint, Joseph Cottolengo to you,
We’ve learnt to love, to serve, to suffer and to be cheerful.
We’re sure that you’ll wait at your door
To welcome our herald, the faithful.
Lord, that Cottolengo School may shine always.

It’s a warm wind, the west wind,
That announces the changing season,
But your unchanging arm is like a land
That withstands all and welcomes every season.
We trust your powerful hand.
Lord, that Cottolengo School may shine always.

You, you my dear friend,
And you, my visitor today and brother forever.
Be sure that God will help us.
In carrying the cross, with its pangs of pain and sacrifice.
Yes, Lord! That Cottolengo School may shine always.
Nicholas Kirimo, ssc
2005