I'm back! On May 25th, Rome's beloved Spring Festival took place—a major event for our communities. What made it special was that it wasn't just my San Gregorio community gathering; all of Fede e Luce's communities in Rome came together. We don't often get to meet across communities because there are so many of us, and finding a space large enough is nearly impossible! Especially when you need a place that works for everyone's needs—like accessible facilities for people in wheelchairs like me.
The gathering was warm, peaceful, and calm. This year's Spring Festival theme was peace, inspired by Pope Francis's greeting from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica: "Peace be with you." It was a fitting choice. Fede e Luce, as the name itself suggests, is a path of integration for all people with disabilities within society, alongside our families and—above all—within the Church. We share a spiritual journey together. But I have to be honest: this time, we fell short on that spiritual aspect. For the hundreds of us gathered there, we had only one priest. One person cannot do everything alone. Many of us could not receive communion, and the difficulty was real and felt.
This is just who I am. I can't tell you only the good parts. I have to speak the truth. Everything was beautiful—we were surrounded by green spaces, the weather was perfect, and we were outdoors together—but the element that should have drawn us most deeply into reflection and the theme of peace was poorly organized. During Mass, people standing further back couldn't hear. The same problem came up during the games, even though we had a microphone and speakers.
So yes, the setting was stunning, truly lovely. But we have to think about the practical side of organizing events. When multiple communities gather outdoors, the logistics matter. If we don't get them right, we lose something essential—as happened here.
I send you my embrace and look forward to our next gathering. On June 7th, I'll be reporting on our swimming competition. See you then!