On May 5, Father Francesco Marchini went to Heaven. Many of us remember him as the national spiritual assistant for Fede e Luce for several years.
It is hard to capture in a few words his wholehearted dedication, his gentleness, and his closeness to parents and their disabled children.
We pray now that his example will guide and inspire all of us, and especially our priests who give themselves to this difficult and sacred work of welcome.
Here is how one mother remembers his presence at her side.
We Learned That Our Children Are Real People
It is difficult to write about Father Francesco—a beloved and respected pastor, confessor and irreplaceable friend, confidant and incomparable consoler. Yet these words capture only part of who he was. He was the priest who devoted himself with such love to our little ones throughout his life. With a smile that reflected his natural gentleness, he took our hands and walked beside us, sustaining us through our struggles. He drew us out of our isolation—made of pain and frustration—and showed us love, communion, and welcome. He brought us Fede e Luce.
From that moment on, our life became an offering to the Lord of our sorrows, a certainty that we were loved by Him because our little ones are His beloved. We shared our experiences with other parents, reached out to other hands reaching toward us. We spent days in the Lord's name with others who, like us, were searching for affection.
We learned new prayers and songs. But above all we learned that our children are real people, people with a dignity that Father Francesco was the first to recognize and defend. He worked to give them the assurance that, as people, they had rights. For this reason, he labored to establish the first Social Cooperative: the Oltretorrente.
He took us on pilgrimage to Rome, Lourdes, Assisi, Loreto—and we returned with our hearts full, our suffering entrusted to the consoling Mother of God. He strengthened our faith, which in anguish had grown weak and robbed us of trust in God and His work. He always said that suffering and anxiety should not darken our spirits, but should lift our eyes to God and place us with confidence in His hands. Only God knows what is best for His beloved children.
The path of faith is not an easy road, but a way full of obstacles. Father Francesco taught us to be strong in overcoming what blocks our journey. Modest but steadfast in his dedication to God, he never imposed his will. He always worked through persuasion, bringing the Word of God into our hearts—a word that, because of him, will remain with us forever.
Thanks be to God for giving us Francesco, and thank you, Father Francesco, for being exactly who you were!
Maria Varoli Parma, 2005
