Sunday Means Not Being Alone
God's Word "is the antidote to the fear of facing life alone... it reminds us that we are in his heart, precious in his eyes, held in the palms of his hands." Thank you so much #faithandlight #closefromapart! I had the chance to attend Mass at Saint Peter's on the Sunday of God's Word. Despite a very early wake-up call and torrential rain, Angela Gattulli and I made our way to Saint Peter's ready to pray for all our communities.
It's a shame the Pope wasn't able to preside over the Mass at the last moment. But his homily, read by Fisichella, helped me remember that I don't need to fear being alone. I'm sharing this memory with you, along with a photo Angela and I took with Pierfrancesco Favino, who was also among the faithful—a wonderful surprise! And thanks too to my parish community at SS. Cirillo and Metodio, and especially to Don Simone, for the catechist training he's been guiding me through. Have you ever thought about letting go of the sail and letting yourself be guided by the wind of the Holy Spirit? That's what I've been doing lately.
For some time now I've been working with the Filoastra association. We're running a project to help people with disabilities find work. It's harder for us than for so-called normal people... though really we all know the difference is that our problem is visible and theirs isn't. Even if things don't change, Marco Colangione and I just hope that the way the world sees disability will shift.
Antonietta Pantone
Remembering Together
What a joy to read through the Together bulletin again! And to remember Mother Anna Maria Pantanella… Everyone called her "Nonna"—Grandmother. From the very beginning of Faith and Light, when she welcomed groups at via Cola di Rienzo 140 and joined in the spirited Masses with our young people. Not just at Faith and Light; her students called her that too. I remember seeing a young former student run toward her and embrace her, calling out "Nonna!" The same student, later studying medicine, called me on the phone while I was in Calabria to say: "Nonna is gone! What do we do?" The truth is, Mother Pantanella's nature invited that closeness. She was genuine, warm, full of humanity: she could give you a scolding or an embrace, but her heart was present in both. This rich humanity revealed God's presence even to those who didn't believe. Jesus of Nazareth was fully human. And his humanity is the path that leads us to the Father. And Nonna spoke of him with her whole being.
Tana Pelagallo