Tomorrow, September 30th, will mark Mauro Moretti's farewell as parish priest of Santa Maria della Neve (Farewell and Thanksgiving Mass at 6:00 PM). However, he won't be going far, just 17 km away, about a 20-minute drive, to become parish priest of Stella Maris in Porto Cervo in a few days.
On November 6, 2016, Don Mauro Moretti, born in Arzachena in 1968 and a priest since 1995, celebrated his first Mass as parish priest of Santa Maria della Neve, alongside Don Francesco Cossu (the previous parish priest) and Bishop Sebastiano Sanguinetti. For nearly a decade, he led a parish shaped over 43 years by his predecessor, Don Francesco Cossu, but which he, Don Mauro, managed, while maintaining continuity, to transform, modernize, and adapt to the times we live in.
Among the new additions are the annual introduction of the Fidali, for organizing the patronal feast and serving as a hub for various activities throughout the year; the now-established organ events (Organ Festival) featuring internationally renowned organists in Santa Maria della Neve; the further opening of the oratory to various youth activities; the availability of the large parish hall for various meetings and deanery (last Saturday); and the availability of the former church of San Pietro for cultural events. Father Mauro leaves the parish behind his pastoral assistant Father Kudełko Kamil Zdzisław and Deacon Salvatore Scugugia. Don Mauro will take possession of Porto Cervo on October 10th, while the new parish priest of Santa Maria della Neve, Don Jacek Meczel, will arrive on October 5th. He is a Polish priest, born in 1966, and has been a priest since 1991. He has been in Gallura for a couple of decades, having previously served as assistant parish priest of Santa Maria Maddalena in La Maddalena, assistant parish priest in Calangianus, parish administrator in Badesi, and currently parish priest of San Pantaleo.
