Santa Barbara is the patron saint of Catholics who work in tunnels and mines, workers who use explosives, fire brigades, sailors, geologists, mathematics and architects. December 4th is Santa Barbara's memorial day, and it was celebrated at the clean water tunnel project in Oslo. 

AF Gruppen is carrying out the work in a joint venture with the Italian company Ghella, and a significant portion of the workers are Catholic. Father Cornelius Arinze Onwuekwe led the mass in the TBM cavern, and the St. Hallvard boys contributed with choir singing.  

Italian-Norwegian venture

Italy's ambassador Stefano Nicoletti was invited to the event. He also visited the construction site in December last year to mark the start of the tunnel boring. 

"The tunnel will be used to transport water to Oslo for the next few decades, so it is a very important project for the residents of Oslo. I am especially pleased that this is a joint project carried out by the Italian company Ghella and the Norwegian company AF," the ambassador said in his address to the workers. 

Thanked the workers

Deputy Project Manager Maurizio Romano noted that the blasting work in the Stubberud tunnels is finished, and the tunnel boring machine has drilled more than 3 kilometers. 

"All of this is thanks to you guys, your excellent work, dedication and sacrifice," Romano said from the stage before the session ended with a symbolic blast in the tunnel. 

After the mass, delicious Italian Christmas food was served, with porchetta, parmigiano cheese, and panettone sent from Ghella's headquarters in Rome. 

Martyr

Saint Barbara was an early Christian Greek martyr from the 3rd century. She was locked in a tower because of her faith. She escaped from the tower but was pursued and eventually killed by her own father, who was a pagan and strongly disliked his daughter's faith. The father himself was killed by a lightning strike.