Despite the pouring rain, many gathered – parish priests, entertainers, catechists, men and women religious, elderly children, whole families – to welcome, with the Volemose band well in the lead, the Bishop of the Diocese of Albano HE Monsignor Vincenzo Long live the which he had announced his presence at the inauguration of the premises hosting the San Filippo Neri Oratory and which will be available to all three parishes of central Marino.
There was no shortage of local authorities who, with their presence, made Don Faustino Cancel, parish priest of the Basilica of San Barnaba Apostolo and of the SS. Trinity, their closeness and sharing. For the Municipality of Marino, the Deputy Mayor M. Sabrina Minucci together with the Municipal Councilor Andrea Crisanti and the Local Police Commissioner of Marino Luisa Moretti, for the Carabinieri the Commander of the Marine Station L.te Simmaco Vigilante and a large representation of operators of the Italian Red Cross.
Don Faustino, in his opening greeting, thanked all those who worked to ensure that the Oratory reopened its doors: “A group of about 30-40 volunteers who did everything: painted, cleaned, disinfected and cleared. All in two months of activity. Happy to have recovered this place and to make it available to all parishes, overcoming a certain parochialism, but also to the whole city. This doesn’t want to be and shouldn’t be a closed place, only for spirituality, but also open to cultural and social initiatives as well as help for school-age children like after-school activities”.
“I am very happy and excited to be here with you today – said HE Vincenzo Viva before proceeding with the blessing – because this team of volunteers has worked so hard to reclaim this place that had fallen into decay. My first thought goes precisely to the young people who are the protagonists of the redevelopment work of this place. In the spirit of St. Philip Neri, inventor of the oratorian spaces, which also Don Bosco has inherited up to the present day. Borrowing an image that the Pope used at WYD, the Oratory must be a hub of hope, a concentrator of hope. A place where everyone can feel welcomed and be protagonists of this space, especially after the pandemic we need to have contact with others and therefore a space like this can offer this possibility of real meeting between the different generations: not only young people, but even adults and the elderly. Because the Church is a community, it is a relationship between people. The hope is that Marino can increasingly be a Unitary Pastoral Center to walk together. Best wishes and good start!”.
While the animators entertained the younger children, a very popular corner of the face painting was also set up and a charity fishing event was held in an adjacent room.
A particularly intense moment was the one that saw the Dante scholar Martina Michelangeli as the protagonist who ventured into a captivating exegesis of the prayer to the Virgin contained in the last Canto of Paradise from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, a text that was recited with feeling by the actor Camillo Marcello Ciorciaro accompanied on the piano by Maestro Francesco Paniccia, much appreciated by those present.
We have heard the testimonies of some volunteers and catechists in whose eyes the joy of a rediscovered place shined through. For Lucia it was a great challenge, a bet for the whole city with the hope of bringing young people and families back to the Oratory. For Anna it was a rebirth, especially after the pandemic, like being able to breathe again. “We worked from the heart, with commitment around Don Faustino who never ceased to encourage us. A lot of effort faced, but in the end the results are there “. Lastly Claudio sincerely hopes that the Oratory can be a meeting point both for young people, allowing them to resume mutual contacts and to carry out activities not only on social networks, but also in presence and across generations.
Some local entrepreneurs were also present. Who knows if their contribution can help Don Faustino to complete the redevelopment works that are necessary for the purposes of a complete use of all the spaces of the Oratory.