The church of Sant'Andrea was packed in every seat for the historic anniversary. At 5:30 pm today, faithful from all over Ogliastra participated in the mass presided over by the bishop of Nuoro and Lanusei, Antonello Mura, for the 200th anniversary of the institution of the Diocese of Ogliastra. On the altar, the monsignor celebrated together with about forty priests and deacons in pastoral service in the 34 parishes of the territory, divided into four deaneries. The bishop retraced some of the salient moments of the 200 years of the Diocese, whose papal bull that sanctioned its autonomy dates back to November 8, 1824. Monsignor Serafino Carchero was the first of the 14 bishops on a mission in Ogliastra. At the time, Tortolì was the seat of the episcopal see. The change occurred on June 5, 1927, when a Vatican decree announced the transfer of the chair to Lanusei. Another key turning point in the history of the Church of Ogliastra is that of 2020, the year in which the Diocese of Lanusei was united with that of Nuoro.
At the end of the service, Bishop Mura brought the faithful greetings from his predecessor, Antioco Piseddu, who led the Diocese from 1981 to 2014. "He could not be here but he fondly remembers his Diocese," were the words of the Monsignor greeted by warm applause. Among other things, today also marks the episcopal ordination of Monsignor Piseddu, which took place 43 years ago in Cagliari: the title was conferred on him by Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio.
Before and after today's solemn celebration, a multitude of faithful visited the temporary exhibition (which will remain open until November 17) set up in the nearby church of Sant'Anna where liturgical elements worn by the fourteen bishops who have taken turns over the course of the 200 years of life of the Diocese were displayed.