Antonietta, Egiziana, and Silvia have written to us about their two communities, the northernmost in the Kimata province: nestled at the foot of the Apuan Alps, a network of friendship like that of Faith and Light communities can make all the difference for many. Communities that are aging, seemingly fragile, seemingly a bit rough around the edges—yet accustomed to watching masterpieces of art pulled from hard marble, gifted with unique generosity and a fierce determination to act, never willing to surrender. (Fabio Bronzini)
Our community in San Pietro d'Avenza is living through this difficult time as if crossing a desert. Under God's careful guidance, and with the Holy Spirit lighting our path, we gather online—different, certainly, from our gatherings in the cottages, yet it has opened a wider view of what it means to be community. Each person offers their own gifts and artistic abilities, bringing peace, as much as possible, to this moment we are living through. This new way of being together has also helped us break down our prejudices and resistance to new technologies. We discovered that what matters is being together, building community.
Some of our young people have lived through moments of grave hardship—illness, the loss of parents—forcing them in some cases to completely change their daily lives. Friends have been deeply present, proving themselves a true network of relationships and support, answering concrete needs and the hunger for rest and joy. But there was also someone who could not make it through.
We remember with deep sorrow Gino Marchini, aged 64. How joyfully he took part in our gatherings! Sunny, smiling, genuine, honest, simple—he had a profound faith and devotion to Mary. He was eagerly waiting for the pilgrimage to Lourdes for the fiftieth anniversary of Faith and Light's founding. During the time he spent in our community, he helped many of us understand and live the Gospel's teachings more fully.
This power of friendship that we live out at Faith and Light led us, about five years ago, to Scorcetoli, a tiny village in the high Lunigiana, fifty kilometers from Marina di Carrara. A few houses along the highway heading toward Emilia, few residents, mostly elderly. The parish is one of eight scattered across the mountains, kilometers apart from each other, commonly called the "Parishes of the Caprio Valley." A small group made up of people with disabilities, parents, and friends from the nearby towns began to meet thanks to the parish priest's invitation, and with support from Avenza, a small Faith and Light community was born there too. With tremendous enthusiasm, this journey began with the custom of gathering once a month and staying in touch by phone.
During the pandemic, the telephone itself helped us feel like a community. The young people, despite everything, are at peace and welcome messages with joy. But everyone misses the smiles, the laughter, the happiness of performing Gospel characters in mime, the sincere embraces. What troubles us all deeply is that we cannot reach the young people in our Sant'Andrea community who live in care facilities in any way. Yet the words that always echo in our phone calls are those of the Gospel: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (Jn 14:1-2)
(Egiziana Cenderelli, Maria Pia Pasqualetti, and Silvia Tamberi)