Despite the progress of the school, colleges, religious and otherwise, still remain the pillars of educational life for present and future generations. To take stock of the situation, this time, they thought about it former probands of the Vallombrosan Benedictine College of Santa Maria di Montenero (Livorno), making an appointment at Spirituality Center “San Pio”, In San Giovanni Rotondo.
After a short search conducted on social through the mole – group Whatsapp “The Probandi”(35 members), were those of Rignano Garganico and San Giovanni Rotondo, initially about twenty, gradually reduced due to other urgent and urgent commitments and their family needs. Tomorrow could be much more due to more appropriate dates and the enlargement of consenting parties to other realities in Italy.
The meeting in question took place yesterday morning in the city at the Spirituality Center from Father Pio, located in Via Anna Frank. To hold the counter in the special room “S.Francesco”, Located on the first floor, under the coordination of the dynamic Antonio PuzzolanteThey were : Donato Impagliatelli, Antonio Aquilante, Angelo Antonio Mastrillo, Salvatore Coletta, Tonino Del Vecchio with his son Angelo, Michele Di Fiore, Matteo Impagliatelli, Matteo Pignatelli, Leonardo Di Gregorio, Pio Di Carlo, Filippo Merla, Salvatore Di Maggio.
From the beginning a great joy was noticed in the interested eyes of those present, that of finding themselves after so many years of complete forgetfulness. After the greetings and hugs, the same Smelly proceeded to fine-tune the organization of the day, first of all thanking the attendees present for coming to the first meeting of the probands and specifying that the date of the meeting had been agreed at the time with Donato Impagliatelli and Angelo Mastrillo , on a day, like the one in question, which seemed perfect because of the “bridge” holidays, which allowed many to reach the headquarters even from distant places. “Unfortunately – said the speaker – no one came down from the north and several of those residing here took advantage of the beautiful days to devote themselves to the olive harvest”.
“A special thanks”, the prefator then addressed it to the aforementioned Donated. Because with his enthusiastic memories of and on the life of children spent in Montenero, he gave birth to the idea of creating the aforementioned social group which, as already mentioned, currently already has 35 members. This number could grow further, with the imminent arrival of the lists of probands, with the relative personal data of each one.
Donatedfor his part, he recounted, among other things, the near-sea tragedy of Calafuria (July 1965), which was successful, thanks to the protective intervention of the Madonna di Montenero who availed herself of the courage of several heroes, by P. Maestro, Don Luigi, to Gennaro Maiello to finish a Luigi Ponziano.
The same ex “proband”, Called into question briefly recalled the figure of Angelo Maceronitheir playmate in football who died at 23 (carabiniere on duty in the capital) due to a sudden and inexplicable illness, highlighting a series of strange and particular coincidences.
What are the aims and objectives of the group? It is soon said. First of all, the aim is to put together, by way of stories, all the positive and negative memories that occurred to the various actors during their collegiate life, in order to arrive shortly at the drafting of a real volume, containing the salient experiences of each, if anything enriched by photographs and documents. Just to allow the protagonists to relive that atmosphere of serenity experienced during adolescence in full compliance with the Benedictine rule “Pray and work“.
To point out some aspects and objectives of the book, Leonardo Di Gregorio provided in extreme synthesis, underlining an ancient point of view: “The story of oneself makes it possible, in addition to” taking care of oneself “, also of that of” others ” the recipients of the overall story, who in turn have the opportunity to take care of us ”. And this in accordance with what the ex-pupils did towards their traveling companions, assuring them closeness with prayer, thus implementing the thought expressed yesterday by Fr Pierino Galeone of the aforementioned Center for Spirituality, according to which “Fraternity is not invented, it is lived only with Jesus, it is witnessed and transmitted through works”.
There was also talk of any pilgrimages to the Benedictine places where former probands lived and grew up. Among other things, the one, in Montenero, scheduled for late spring next year.
The other objectives to be achieved are: following the life of the Sanctuary and former “probandate”, subscribing to theEcho of Montenero, possibly online; ask to Don Luca joining the Vallombrosan Benedictine order as oblates; organize the online recitation of the Holy Rosary at least once a month, by connecting via video conference with the arch-confraternity of Carpino.
Finally, the Smelly he paused to illustrate the reasons for the choice of location and his experience of faith.
At the end of the day and the lunch that followed, with payment of the relative modest sum in the ‘Roman style’, a photo – group souvenir was taken with installation in the space in front of the main door of the structure (see on the cover: from the left: Pio Di Carlo, Antonio Puzzolante – with the stick – Antonio Aquilante, Donato Impagnatielli, Tonino Del Vecchio, Matteo Impagnattielli, Salvatore Coletta, Angelo Mastrillo, Matteo Pignatelli. Behind, near the jets of water: Filippo Merla And Michele Di Fiore).
See you at the next episode!
NB. Out of respect for privacy, we have omitted the professional qualification held and any positions, managerial or otherwise, held by interested parties in the public and private sectors.
Journalist, writer and historian. He has about fifty publications on tradition, archeology and local history to his credit.
Former Benedictine colleges meet again, after 70 years, in San Giovanni Rotondo.