In the second half of July, 13 seminarians from Italy and Europe, plus one from Brazil, experienced a Church- community life in the context of the “cittadella”.
It all started with a sign that was received and interpreted. Two years ago, the seminary of Naples requested to host a group of seminarians for an international formative experience in Loppiano. The young men were deeply moved. “Then we learned that various seminary rectors are, each year, looking for centers to send their seminarians for a short summer experience, because they feel, now more than ever, that seminarians need to open up to the different realities of the Church,” says Father Innocent Thibaut Ndoreraho, a Burundian, who is the international leader of the Gens (seminarians connected to the Focolare Movement). “So, we wrote to various seminary rectors, offering them the opportunity this year to spend one or two weeks in July in the ‘cittadella’.
“In our country,” explains Father Tommaso Danovero, vice-rector of the seminary in Genoa and assistant to the Gens in Italy, “seminary leaders have included in their summer programs the proposal to have experiences outside their own parish and diocese.” In Loppiano, the base was the “Vinea Mea” Spirituality Center for priests and seminarians. From July 14 to 20 and from July 21 to 27, 14 young men arrived. Mostly Italians, but also a Romanian, a Brazilian, and a small group of Slovaks, who came to deepen their understanding of the charism of unity after participating in a meeting with Jesús Morán, the co-president of the Focolare Movement, in their own country.
There was a bit of the excitement that comes with beginnings. “In fact, this was the very first meeting for seminarians not already in contact with the Movement,” report the two priests. They add, “The seminarians were engaged by the program and the shared experience of living together. We noticed the freshness and simplicity with which they shared their vocation stories. It also helped that four of the Slovak participants were of the Greek Catholic rite.”
The program had an explicit theme—”Experiences of Church-communion in light of the charism of unity“—and was carried out through reflections on the spirituality of unity in the mornings, followed by visits to the various “facets” of Loppiano in the afternoons. The seminarians visited Gen Rosso, the home for elderly or sick Focolare women, the Evangelii Gaudium Center, families, the Focolare formation school, the Sophia University Institute, the Maria Theotokos shrine, and the Entrepreneurial Center. “There were also short trips for enrichment. In Florence, where the seminarians visited the Duomo, welcomed by a Byzantine Rite Focolare priest, and to the sanctuary of La Verna, where St. Francis received the stigmata in 1224.”
The first event concluded with the participants’ appreciation. “I had read about the charism, but here I encounter it: one can live this way.” “I experienced community; we are one in Jesus.” And also: “I am grateful for this opportunity, it broadens horizons, especially for international communion and the presence of different rites.” “Here, there is unity between words and life.” They discussed the synodality of the Church, but also economics. “In the Economy of Communion, I saw the Church’s social doctrine put into practice.”
It seems that the threefold objective of the proposal was well-received: to offer an experience of community life according to the charism of Chiara Lubich, to promote holistic formation attentive to various aspects of life (putting one’s talents to use), and to deepen the contributions of the Focolare Movement to the ecclesial path outlined by Pope Francis. In short, from liturgical and personal prayer to moments of spiritual sharing, and even to practical tasks like housework, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning. Father Innocent Thibaut and Father Tommaso are pleased with how it went. So much so that they believe one or two weeks of experience at “Vinea Mea” in the context of Loppiano could be offered to seminarians every summer.
