San Cirillo - Rome
On April 22, 1978, a new Faith and Light group was born: the San Cirillo group.
After a violent downpour, the sun broke through, as if encouraging us to move forward and welcome our new friends. I'll admit I felt a bit anxious at first, but as we gathered and friends from other groups came to visit, I felt the way I always do—at peace. I wondered why I'd been nervous in the first place. And then, seeing everyone again...
How hard it is to explain what Faith and Light really is! Every time I come to a gathering, a deep peace descends on me, and it overflows into tremendous joy at seeing you all—the youngest with a smile that tells me he recognizes me, the oldest greeting me as if I were the only person in the world. I wish all our friends in San Cirillo, especially those who need us most, could know what Faith and Light is. And I wish those who suffer most could understand that God did not send their hardship as punishment. Rather, in His divine plan—though its true meaning remains hidden from some of us—He has put us to the test with a task so great.
Our new friends are wonderful; with Don Edoardo, who welcomed us, we hope they will soon grow in number to welcome those among us who need support most.
Rita Ozzimo, 1978
Villa Patrizi - Rome
I've been asked to share some thoughts about Villa Patrizi's life over recent months. Rather than recount individual celebrations and meetings, I want to step back and reflect on the larger picture.
Before writing, I reread a few pages from last year's issues of "Insieme," especially about our Sundays at the "Little House." The memories came flooding back—our feelings, our sensations and emotions, the conversations we had. We were filled with an enthusiasm unlike anything before. During our meetings, time seemed to drift away into something dreamlike, outside reality itself.
We believed our reasons for joining the group were selfish—that we came only because we felt good there. We thought perhaps it would always feel that way. Obviously, thankfully, it hasn't.
Faith and Light has entered the real world of each of our lives, with its celebrations and meetings, yes, but also its problems and struggles.
I realized at last summer's camp—my second—that I could no longer come with the carefree spirit of before, knowing that every moment would bring new joy and happiness.
I saw that renewing my commitment meant facing effort, difficulty, and tensions that hadn't existed before. That happened to me, and I think to many of us who have been in Faith and Light for such a short time.
Some of us faced serious struggles and stayed away for long periods, showing up rarely. Others vanished altogether. Yet new people keep coming—a sign that it matters to find both encouragement and discouragement in Faith and Light. But I'm convinced this second year has been more meaningful for me than the first.
The same is true for the Villa Patrizi group itself, which I've been part of for two years. Especially this year, the challenges facing our community have weighed heavily on us. It's a large group—many people who barely knew each other at the start of the year.
With only one meeting a month, it's terribly hard to build real unity and closeness. We often found ourselves at odds and without answers to offer.
As the year went on, we saw more of each other. We held planning meetings and spent a few full Sundays together—following the example of the "Little House" at Nazareth.
Though we still have much to learn about being together well, these past months have been especially important. With greater commitment and better organization, we've shared moments that, I believe, left everyone satisfied.
I especially loved our last Sunday together. After being out in the morning, we had lunch as a group. Then we spent the afternoon in the garden in the sun, doing small tasks for the flea market. I think we were all calm and peaceful—something that rarely happens at Villa Patrizi's more chaotic celebrations.
I know that all of us want this to happen more often. We just need the chance to make it so—starting with the trip we took together on June 4th.
Pinino, 1978
San Paolo Hands-out - Rome
As we reach the end of the year, we wanted to look back and see what we've accomplished.
Since October, we've held a big celebration each month—with food, games, and prayer all together.
Once a month we've met with parents to discuss our group, the young people, and the challenges we face.
We also organized a sale to build our treasury. Every young person worked—using their skills with glue and clothespins, cardboard and paints, cotton and crochet hooks, plaster and molds. The sale was very successful, and the money allowed our group to go nearly intact on pilgrimage to Assisi.
In March we organized a fishing outing to help the center get to know us better.
We took part in the Festival of Light and the Spring Festival, which brought us together with other groups in February and May. Our representatives, Cinzia and Clara, attended all meetings with representatives from other groups, including the meeting in Brussels.
We've certainly done much more than last year. But we think there's still much more to do. We're already planning next year's activities. Several ideas have come up: sports (swimming, gymnastics), a shared vacation, a play written entirely by the young people themselves—unlike the one we're preparing now, which opens June 18th.
We hope to make some of this happen.
SEPU Settimio, 1978
Santa Silvia - Rome
From October to June, I'd say Santa Silvia has come a long way.
I remember the first meeting of the year, when we had to decide whether to go forward or give up.
I remember the heaviness of that evening, the pessimistic tone, the year ahead seeming impossibly difficult to live through. Then Guenda spoke: let's start, let's just start and see what happens.
We started. And we saw.
We saw doubt transform into serenity and moments of real joy.
We saw the desire grow—to see each other more, to do more, to live our friendship more deeply. The meetings became real. I would almost say Santa Silvia came back to life.
I'm not entirely sure why this happened. Perhaps because new parents and new young people arrived, bringing fresh energy. Perhaps because we were swept up in a year of Faith and Light so full of meaning, so full of things that shook us and united us. Perhaps because this year we prayed together more. Perhaps because we let ourselves believe that what we're living isn't something we're controlling with our own hands alone. Or perhaps Assisi, poverty, Mary—did something for us without us even noticing exactly how.
Whatever the reason, it happened. And we're grateful.
Of course the problems haven't gone away. The parish question remains open. The question of how many young people we reach. Most of all, I'd say, the question of how to keep renewing ourselves in the way we're together—seeing things more through each person's eyes and less through the group's. Making our meetings more personal, more genuine, more deep, more responsive to what each of us actually needs.
The problems haven't lessened, but our anxiety about facing them has. So with the joy of a good year behind us, I look toward the next with real hope. A light has been lit. Many roads have opened before the "small" (for now), "wonderful" (forever, we hope?) Santa Silvia group.
Lucia, 1978
San Gioacchino - Rome
San Gioacchino's winter activities have now come to an end for the obvious seasonal reasons.
We met for planning at least twice a month, taking turns in each other's homes.
Sunday afternoons at the parish, we gathered for Mass, followed by time set aside for parent discussions, while the young people did crafts. Then came a cheerful snack and a sad goodbye until the next gathering.
No one person welcomes us. Whoever arrives first does the welcoming.
Our friend Marcel usually celebrates the Mass, more often in the parish hall than in the church itself.
Early in the year, long and serious discussions pressed for real inclusion in the parish life. We rightly saw the Mass as the most direct path. One of our friends pushed for our participation in the Sunday evening Mass.
We all agreed fully and will make it happen as soon as we can.
Our last meeting followed a format we've used before that suits the group better. Parents gathered in one room and, with M. Teresa Puerto, discussed their concerns, while a large group of young people and friends took a two-hour walk through different routes that all led to the same place: a gelato bar. We all returned for snacks with singing, then came the sad goodbye!
In my view, this year at San Gioacchino has been overall positive.
There were certainly rough spots, but noticing what hasn't gone well or what we haven't done is itself a sign that we want to improve ourselves and the world around us.
You all know the good I see in this group, and each of you discovers it more each day: the simplicity, the joy of being together, friendships growing deeper bit by bit, more and more collaboration and participation, each according to their gifts.
We thank God for all of this—He who follows us with love. We reach Him through our common Mother, Mary most holy.
It's wonderful to have a Father in heaven, but knowing we have a Mother too brings an even deeper sense of joy.
Claudio, 1978
Cuneo
After Assisi, the Cuneo group has jumped back into activity with greater enthusiasm. More young people have joined us. Here's roughly how we work now: we have one celebration-meeting each month in parish halls or institutions we arrange ahead of time. Four different people organize each gathering, so everyone has a role.
Once a month, some young people visit Stella Mattutina and spend the afternoon with six young people from the institute.
Every Saturday, some young people, me, Betty, and our children spend the afternoon with the six Stella Mattutina residents and three others from outside. We're preparing stone pictures—small rocks set in scagliola, like a mosaic—to give to group families for Mother's Day.
We've also solved the problem of Matteo (a young man with serious needs). Mimmo and Gianni committed to keeping him company Saturday afternoons, giving his mother some relief. She teaches school and only has Saturday afternoon to manage her household.
Latest News
On April 23, Elisa and Franco, two young people from our group, were married.
Congratulations to the couple! And warm greetings to all our friends in Rome.
Mario and Betty, 1978
Milan - Brief Flash for "Insieme"
Born two years ago from about twenty young people and friends, our group has grown steadily. Today we number roughly sixty to seventy people.
Perhaps our most important recent achievement has been finding in Don Pierangelo Sequeri (many of you will remember him at the Mass in Santa Chiara and in the Upper Basilica at Assisi, conducting songs with those wonderfully wide arms) a devoted friend and guide who does everything to make himself available at any hour of day or, why not, night.
Otherwise, I don't think our activities differ much from other Italian groups. Celebrations every two or three weeks or monthly, in the hall kindly offered by the San Giuseppe della Pace parish community. A few meetings for training and organization. Meetings just for mothers or just for the young adults. Two or three outings annually when the weather permits, plus personal visits between friends—maybe over pizza.
We see the possibility—really, the opportunity—of starting a second group in another part of Milan. About ten of our members have enough experience to launch an independent operation.
Further down the road, we envision two more groups, one in Monza and one in Bresso.
For about a year now, alongside our regular turns with therapeutic gymnastics, we've had hippotherapy, organized by care organizations and followed by some of our young people with their parents or friends. The activity takes place at two riding clubs that have donated horses and equipment. A doctor and two psychologists supervise.
It's encouraging to see club members spontaneously volunteer—their actions show they've embraced the spirit of what we're doing.
Beyond the simple escape that brightens these young people's days, the sessions add therapeutic value through proper riding exercises and the natural massage that comes from contact with the horse's muscles.
Thank you for giving us the chance to share with all of you. We send our warmest regards.
Antonio Casazza