Familiarity is a hallmark of San Genesio, as Don Giovanni emphasised at the beginning of the two Masses we celebrated in this community over the last weekend of February. We were, in fact, greeted very warmly upon our arrival at the oratory, the hub of all parish activities. The church is currently closed for renovations, and therefore the oratory spaces are also used for the celebration of the Eucharist. The theatre hall has been converted into a liturgical hall, in a very dignified yet intimate manner.
After the pre-holiday Mass, we stayed in the oratory to meet with the post-confirmation group. Together with the children and their teachers, we prayed Vespers and enjoyed a moment of testimony and discussion. Significant in this setting is, without a doubt, the presence of a wonderful group of adult volunteers who are particularly dedicated to the journey of these children and the adolescents. Finally, a pizza together concluded this evening of mutual sharing. The next day, we celebrated Mass again with the community and then split up into the various catechism classes to meet with the children in Christian initiation. Lunch with the priests who serve in the parish—Monsignor Luigi Pedrini, Father Antonio Razzini, and Father Robert Funda Funda Mpia—was a precious time of fellowship and mutual understanding.
Over the previous weekend (February 15th and 16th), we enjoyed some moments of encounter and fellowship with the Mirabello community, where we attended Saturday and Sunday Masses and shared our experiences. On Sunday, we also spent lunch in the oratory with a group of parishioners.



