A River of Peace – North
Accompanied by Mary: this is the theme of the pilgrimages organized by A River of Peace from January through June to prepare hearts and live in communion, supporting the Lebanon International Assembly. On February 25th, communities from Galilee gathered; on April 15th, those from Lombardy. June 2nd brought the Veneto communities together, and between May and June came those from the Val d'Aosta and Piedmont. A province in prayer around three icons: Mary at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27); the Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-7); Mary in the Cenacle (Acts 1:6-14). With the help of Jesus and the Spirit, we will celebrate communion in prayer. When these pilgrimages began, I traveled to Galilee in January. The joy of discovering the places of our God was immense. At the heart of that journey was meeting the Olive Tree communities of Galilee in Eilaboun and Myriam Bowardi in Shifamer. Great joy in these encounters, and a request not to be left alone in that particular land. I asked the Bishop of Haifa to lead the pilgrimage of the two communities. Meeting with them confirmed that this was the right request. They wanted their young people to be in the heart of the Church, and the Bishop's presence was a concrete sign of this. On February 25th, the pilgrimage was celebrated with the Bishop. Such joy, such celebration. The Spirit was moving.
Liliana Ghiringhelli
Kimata – Center
I set out for Lunigiana, in northern Tuscany, to visit a young community that has been gathering for three years now.
At Aulla, Don Lucio welcomes me. He is the spiritual director who founded the community of St. Peter in Avenza (Tuscany) and wanted to bring Fede e Luce to his new parish as well.
We have lunch—testaroli, a local specialty—and then head to meet the new community in Scorcetoli. Scorcetoli is quite different from the other cities where Kimata communities gather, but the welcome is always the same: smiles, laughter, food, that joyful chaos that marks all our gatherings. In short, a place where you feel at home. The celebration flies by, and suddenly it's time to leave. I manage to say goodbye to everyone, then hurry off—it's getting late and it's started to snow.
Don Lucio and I make it to the station just in time: the train is already there. I say goodbye to my companion and step into the car as the doors close behind me. I carry with me Chiara's cheerfulness—she asks me to say hello to Gigi D'Alessio since we live in the same city—and her mother's strong character, Luca's smile, the joy of the twin sisters Francesca and Anita, their mother's tenderness, Bruno and Nicolò joking together, Federica's attentiveness to everyone, and so many other people I met whose names escape me now.
I often say that one of the most beautiful things about Fede e Luce is always meeting new people. Today was yet another confirmation of that.
Fabio Bronzini
Sea and Volcanoes – South
They come from very different stories, but they are arriving, slowly. God willing, two new communities will soon join our province: Rays of Love in Campania and The Precious Pearl in Puglia. Rays of Love went through a difficult period years ago, found a home in Frattaminore, and has now moved to Grumo Nevano. Within the community are veterans of Fede e Luce who have found the energy to keep building bonds of friendship. In Foggia, the group completing its journey to join the province is made up of people who knew nothing of Jean Vanier, l'Arche, the history, or even the spirituality of Fede e Luce. Meeting them was, for me personally, a return to the enthusiasm of the early years when everything was new and enchanted. Now, as a mother from Bari said during the Festival of Light on February 25th, to renew one's commitment you must continually "return to the source." And the source is the encounter with the "little ones" to whom God's things have been revealed before "the wise and the understanding." This encounter makes you forget that it's zero degrees outside, that there's no room large enough for everyone to eat together, that getting to the bathroom means braving a blizzard. Instead, you go home with that blessed smile on your lips—a smile that various worries will erase the next day. It is up to us to remember that to find that smile again, we must encounter our brothers and sisters.
Vito Giannulo