If Christianity is, as we believe, an encounter with a person—the risen and living Christ—then the Jubilee is a precious opportunity to experience his nearness and his forgiveness.
This year, dedicated to mercy, many were preparing for pilgrimage to Rome for events honoring the sick and people with disabilities. But Un Fiume di Pace chose a different path: we decided to bring communities together for days of reflection and prayer, spreading the joy across our regions. Some groups have already made mini-pilgrimages to a Holy Door, but we also wanted to gather for full days of celebration across Northern Italy.
Lombardy
Our Lombardy regions made the journey to Sotto il Monte, the birthplace of Pope John XXIII. On April 17, 243 pilgrims came together to discover the story of the beloved pontiff and share a day truly rich with grace.
Don Mauro Santoro, our provincial assistant, guided us with these words: "We are here to receive, not to give. We've come to live this Jubilee, to drink from your love. You welcome us and give us a commandment: love one another as I have loved you. But the love you speak of is not what the world tells us it is. It is concrete love that touches flesh. It is daily dedication—the small gestures in a family, the sacrifice of life lived moment by moment. You gave yourself for us, and you ask us to bear fruit by giving ourselves to those near us." We were many that day, listening to calls for peace and sharing. In preparation, smaller groups from across the province had asked Jesus to transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. At Sotto il Monte, we reflected together on the healing that encountering Mercy can bring. As people entered the church, each drew on a yellow card their state of mind—joyful, sad, worried, angry—and offered it at the offertory to Jesus, who says: "Come to me as you are. Offer me your life. Let me enter your heart." At Communion, each received a green card to keep, describing how they felt after meeting Jesus. The transformation may not have been instant, but we carried with us the certainty that God loves us first and never stops, even when we are sad or angry with him.
Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta
On Sunday, May 29, two jubilee celebrations unfolded. In sunshine and rainbow, the community "Guida la tua guida" was welcomed to the Sanctuary of Vicoforte by the Rector, who spoke with the young people before leading them through the Holy Door. He remembered us in his homily and invited leaders, youth, and parents to hear about our movement and community. With less favorable weather but equal joy, "Porte Aperte" celebrated the Jubilee indoors under the protective wing of the Cottolengo. In both places, as we say in Piedmont, all the psalms ended in glory—gathered around well-laden tables as is our custom.
Another celebration, which included communities from Cuneo, took place on June 19 at the Sanctuary of the Christ Child of Prague in Arenzano, hosted by the Carmelite fathers.
Veneto
On September 11, our Venetian communities will gather for joy and shared faith at the Sanctuary of Saint Leopold Mandic in Padua, where the bishop has opened one of the Holy Doors. This choice feels significant to us: Pope Francis chose Father Leopold (along with Padre Pio) as particular witnesses to this Jubilee of Mercy.
Father Leopold gave his life to drawing his brothers and sisters closer through the sacrament of Reconciliation, passing on the love of the merciful Father who waits to embrace his lost child. As Fede e Luce, we want to live this day aware of our need for that embrace, while also bringing the small wounds within our communities—the misunderstandings, the distances, the differences that only under the Lord's gaze can be healed.
Angela, Nicoletta, Lucia and Alessandro, 2016