A River of Peace
In April, at Oropa—in a magnificent Marian shrine—our communities gathered to pray, give thanks, celebrate, and hold elections. We were guided by Christ's words: "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."
The Lord poses this question with incredible tenderness to disciples overwhelmed by a task far beyond them: feeding all those people. How many loaves do you have? Go and see. It is Jesus asking us.
We have little—fine. We start with that. When we are invited to look at what we have, even if it is small, we must trust that placed in His hands it can become abundance. This we must live with great peace and serenity.
The washing of feet prepared our hearts, and our spirits were lifted by dances led by the Galilee community. Christ's call becomes history in my own story. I am asked for openness to discernment. "But how can I? I am a mother, a wife, a social worker." I trust. And here I am, a new coordinator.
Kimata – Center
Throughout the year, our Roman communities have walked a journey centered on the anointing of the sick.
At first, many had serious doubts. We worried about "discouraging" our young people. We didn't want to confuse disability with illness. The Spring Festival didn't seem like the right moment.
It is no secret that our communities are rooted in fragility—that of our young people, especially. They, their parents, their siblings—they know fragility well, and it has always been our strength. They are the ones who bring joy to our gatherings. They are the ones who make us happy.
But over time, many of us have begun to experience a new fragility. To all of us, who are becoming fragile, Jesus says that he loves us, that we matter—so much that he offers us a sacrament, that he does not leave us alone. What is discouraging about that? Jesus does not leave us alone, and he shows us this by placing beside us those who love us, like our young people, who—having known fragility since birth—are an example and guide for all of us.
The Spring Festival was a beautiful celebration, thanks to those who prepared it and to the Holy Spirit. We celebrated it at the Sanctuary of Divine Love, together with many pilgrims who did not even know us. Sixty people from all our communities received the sacrament and offered concrete testimony to the joy of fragility.
Sea and Volcanoes – South
First of all, THANK YOU. Thank you to the Holy Spirit for the gift we have received. Thank you for the gift of trust, for the gift of responsibility, for the gift of new friends. Thank you for the gift of our young people, our families, for the gift of our international character, thank you for the gift of Vito…thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
During our assembly, just concluded, we took up the theme of trust and entrusting and being entrusted to in every way. I believe these themes prepared us to welcome what the Lord had in store for us.
Throughout those days we heard again and again the passage "Behold, I make all things new"—a theme that has accompanied me from the beginning, and it is so…every day I felt myself always new, alive anew.
We have traveled far, we have sown much, and as Don Marcello said, the Lord tended the field and then let us gather the harvest, receive the gift, over these years, of three new communities, perhaps I would say six…because three "old" communities merged with three others…they gave life to one another, they gave themselves to one another.
I have written the word "gift" many times intentionally, because a gift is free, special, unique and precious for the one who gives it and for the one who receives it. That is how I see Fede e Luce—a GIFT, a gift for humanity. Whoever lets themselves be wrapped in its spirit falls in love with it, feels strong in their fragility. That is our secret!