It is a moment of recollection around the Word of God to start our weekend in the pastoral unit of Cura Carpignano, Calignano and Prado: on Friday 25 October Don Pietro Varasio, the parish priest, came to visit us in the seminary to share a meeting of lectio divina, dinner, and the story of his vocational and ministerial experience in the pastoral unit he has led for three years. Through his stories, we felt like we were already beginning to appreciate the beauty of the faces and the richness of the journeys of those who would welcome us over the next two days.
Upon our arrival at Cura Carpignano on Sunday morning, we found a large group of catechists in the oratory, all busy preparing the room for the lunch we would have later with the children. For us, this was the most beautiful image of a community where so many are working hard to serve others. Immediately afterward, we moved to the church, where the first catechism children were already arriving. The nave gradually filled, and we found ourselves facing about sixty cheerful and lively faces. Together with them, starting with the Gospel passage about the calling of the first disciples, we discussed the matter in groups. Within each group, one of us shared his or her experience of receiving the Lord's invitation to follow him and of our daily life in the seminary. The attentive gazes of the young people and the many questions they asked us at the end were the most beautiful gift this encounter with them gave us.
We then celebrated Mass together, during which the catechists received a blessing for the service they will perform this pastoral year. Finally, lunch in the oratory was an opportunity to spend some more time with the children and get to know Father Pietro and the catechists better.
Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, we also met the small but vibrant communities of Prado and Calignano. We celebrated Mass with them, during which one of us shared his vocational testimony.
All these were significant moments of encounter with so many different people, each of whom showed us the beautiful face of a welcoming, joyful, and ever-evolving Church!
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