Faith and Light Soccer Tournament in Rome
On Saturday, May 20th, the final matches of the Faith and Light five-a-side soccer tournament took place between teams from seven of our communities and the Ulivo team (L'Arche of Ciampino). Starting in early March, weather permitting, one or two pairs of teams met each Saturday on a soccer field that a local parish had made available to us — dusty, perhaps, but we were grateful for their hospitality! Week after week, as the tournament schedule filled with results and the occasional heated exchange or collision on the pitch, with communities cheering more or less enthusiastically and "colorfully" for their own players, and with a few drops of rain along the way, we finally reached the big day. We had hoped to play the finals in time for the awards ceremony during the Spring Festival. But rain had other plans. Perhaps it worked out for the best: we got to meet and celebrate together one more time!
Santa Silvia–San Gregorio finished fourth after an exhausting match — what heat, what a large field! — against San Gioacchino (in photo 2, Giovanni holds the third-place trophy).
The final was played between Santa Teresa (photo 6) and San Francesco (photo 4). After a hard-fought match and some heated words — yes, even in the final! — sorted out afterward by the two captains (photo 5), San Francesco won 2–1.
Manlio was top scorer again this year (photo 3). Of course, we play to be together, so heartfelt thanks to Sant'Anna, Villa Patrizi, San Roberto, and Ulivo. Next year will go better!
The tall fellow handing out the trophies is Stefano, our regional coordinator, who followed and encouraged us throughout. Together with a couple of dedicated friends, he made the tournament possible.
Thanks to everyone. See you at the 3rd Faith and Light Soccer Tournament.
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You're Wonderful! Together in Parma
Once again this year, keeping what has almost become a tradition, we visited the Faith and Light group in Parma, where we met friends from Carugate, Fidenza, and a small delegation from Abano Terme.
Our aim was to strengthen the bonds of affection that have grown between us over the years. The warm hospitality of our friends from Parma fostered joyful relationships — full of laughter in moments of relaxation and deeply united around the Eucharistic table.
The morning hour before lunch saw most of us scattered across the sprawling, tree-filled courtyard of the Salesian institute that welcomed us. A smaller group gathered to reflect, guided by Don Sergio and Mariella, on the relationship between Faith and Light communities and parish churches.
A need emerged immediately, felt by all: we must build greater unity between the Faith and Light groups and the parish communities. We are one people of God and must strive for a shared purpose, moving past divisions and difficulties.
Don Sergio emphasized that if children with disabilities are not part of a parish's pastoral plan, if they don't have a privileged place in the parish community, then that community is not truly evangelical.
He also called for better preparation and greater openness from parishes in designing religious education for children with disabilities, and for creating liturgical gestures better suited to them.
A Joy for All of Us
We gathered in the hall, where our friends from Parma's already legendary hospitality treated us to an abundance of good food.
In the afternoon we sang, danced, and won countless prizes at the raffle. We saw familiar faces, exchanged greetings, asked how everyone was doing, and then — as the finishing touch — the members of the national council meeting held in Fidenza arrived: Mariangela, Claudio, Pierluigi, Mario. Getting to greet them and exchange a few words was, as always, a joy for all of us.
The day ended with Mass in Parma's magnificent cathedral, with the frescoes of Correggio watching over us from above.
Thank you, friends from Parma. You are truly wonderful!
— Trixi Pezzoli, (San Gaetano group, Milan), 1989
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I Never Could Have Imagined
A friend's mother recalls her first Faith and Light retreat
My daughter Huberta asked me to join her for a long weekend — four days in Terracina with the Santa Teresa community.
She said she wouldn't explain much about it. She'd simply throw me into the deep end. So I let myself be carried along.
I'd never done anything like this before, and I couldn't imagine what it would be like. I knew a bit from Hubi's stories, but even the most perfect and detailed account could never have prepared me for what I experienced there.
So off we went. When we arrived, I felt a little nervous — though it was more a fear of being afraid. The moment I found myself among the young people, I was immediately struck by how warmly and openly I was welcomed. My anxiety vanished completely, and I felt as though I'd stepped into a large family. Within five minutes, I forgot that the young people were any different from anyone else. That was what struck me most of all — something I could never have anticipated.
I truly believe the Lord is present here. He helped me find the right attitude at the right moment. I no longer saw differences between us. We were all equal. The Lord gave me the strength to see every young person as a normal person, to accept them as I would anyone else, and not to pity their fate. I think this last part is very important — they feel it keenly.
I can only say those four days were beautiful, intense, and full of experience. I felt welcomed with such warmth and joy, sometimes through gestures I didn't understand but that were full of affection. I found their incredible humility moving: everyone did everything together, no one was left out. It took great patience, sometimes firmness, and a great deal of sensitivity — all in the right measure. The friends here know how to do this beautifully.
I find the whole idea tremendously positive and I admire everyone who gives so much energy to it. In Austria, unfortunately, we are not as far advanced, but I must say things are improving year by year.
I will never forget those four days, and I thank my "children" deeply for bringing me with them to Terracina.
I hope someday to invite a small group to Austria in the summer, to Uebelbach — one person was already starting to learn German from me!
Warm greetings to all the friends, young people, and parents I met there. I think of you often and hope you stay just as you are.
— Maria Verena Pott, 1989
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What an Olympics!
Rome: Spring Festival
Dozens of balloons and colored scarves, an enormous lawn, nearly four hundred people, and a brilliant day — ten teams took to the field for the "Great Olympics" at the Spring Festival of the Rome Faith and Light communities, on May 14th.
Preparing the games was no small task: referee shirts to color so they'd be easily recognized, triangular scarves to cut, countless details and special requests to handle.
The first challenge was dividing everyone into balanced teams. Here's where the scarves came in: about three hundred of them in ten different colors, mixed in bags. Everyone drew one and joined the team matching their scarf color.
Like any proper team competition, we needed a team captain — someone "charismatic" enough to rally the team, coordinate them, and ideally lead them to victory. Each team had its own corner, marked by colored balloons we'd bought that morning at the fairground.
Once the teams were assembled, we sent the torchbearer around the field with the Olympic flame. Then three representatives from each team were ready to march carrying a sign with the team's name and symbol, while we sang the teams' national anthems — each one hastily composed that very morning.
Now the real competition began — the hardest part to organize. How do you make sure everyone plays? The games had to be simple, possible to do without much moving around so everyone could participate. And they had to be explained several times, clearly enough that everyone understood.
The first event was the "Water Relay." Each team lined up in a row: at one end sat a basin full of water; at the other, an empty bottle to fill. Everyone had a plastic cup. The water was passed from basin to bottle, cup by cup down the line. But not much made it to the bottle — there was plenty of spilling, and some instinctive sips along the way!
Next, the teams tackled a short treasure hunt with unusual challenges: naming the color of Carlo's socks, finding the license plate number of the regional coordinator.
After all that running, another game we could play in place. Each team stood in a circle, backs to the center, and had to wrap themselves in yarn from a ball passed hand to hand around the circle. Then we had to wind the ball back up, passing it hand to hand. Unfortunately, the soft balls meant for knitting ladies produced thread that came out in doubles, triples, and tangles that brought out the worst in every team: "Cut it, cut it — the referee isn't looking!" The referee would swoop in like a hawk: "No good! No good!" If you use this game — it's perfect and hilarious — I'd recommend using real yarn balls.
At last came the "Tailoring" event: each team had to create an outfit from paper and tape on a model chosen from among their members. Then the models paraded in front of the judges.
At the end, a prize for everyone: a medal for the most sportive team, one for the friendliest, one for the unluckiest...
The games ended: the torch left the field, the teams applauded, the balloons bobbed in the breeze. And then everyone lined up for lunch under the trees.
In the afternoon, we danced traditional dances in groups, everyone had ice cream, and then we gathered for a warm and lively Eucharist together.
— Vittoria, 1989