On the way to peace, the 21st edition of the March to Barbiana on 3 September

In Barbiana in the name of peace and non-violence. It is the topicality of Don Milani’s teaching, who still speaks to us today and, as underlined by the President of the Region this morning, offers us food for thought on the issues of the present.

“Peace. Between non-violence and resistance “is precisely the theme of the 21st edition of the” March to Barbiana “to be held in Vicchio on Saturday 3 September and which was presented this morning in the Sala Pegaso of Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati by the president of Tuscany together with the mayor of Vicchio, to the president of the cultural institution Don Lorenzo Milani, to the Don Lorenzo Milani Group association of Calenzano, to the president of the municipal council of Florence

For the President of the Region, the path up to the little church of Barbiana represents a very important point of reference. The president of Tuscany invites “all men of good will to participate in this event on September 3, which is a value message of extraordinary significance of which Tuscany is proud because it is precisely from this territory that Don Lorenzo Milani was able to draw his energies , the stimuli, the reflections that have made him a point of reference for a reformed church, but above all for a secularism which through religious values ​​finds its meanings in Italy and in the world ”.
The president then recalled the commitment of Don Milani who died 55 years ago in 1967 and who in the 40 years he lived (he was born on May 27, 1923) left, the president explains, “an unmistakable sign. A figure of reference in Catholic values, with a reformist approach, he urged the church so that it could reach the hearts, feelings and spirituality of people with that authenticity that the Christian message wants “.
He became an awkward character and in the place where he was bound, from that mountain church, difficult to reach, his powerful, innovative message came out. “From there, says the governor in conclusion,” he was able to offer references and messages of extraordinary modernity for teaching and also with regard to conscientious objection, an institution that is also based on his thought of him “

On 3 September the meeting is in Piazza Giotto at 8.30. Greetings from the mayor, the parish priest and the representatives of the participating associations are expected. At 9 am the departure to reach (on foot or by shuttle bus) the Viola lake, the place of the meeting, and then, at 10.30, walk towards the small town of Barbiana, up to the church and the rectory where the prior gave life to the “School of Barbiana”. Here, at 11.30, after the institutional greetings and the presidents of the Don Lorenzo Milani Foundation, the Don Lorenzo Milani Cultural Institution and the Don Lorenzo Milani Group voluntary association of Calenzano, “reflection” by the president of the Committee for the centenary of the birth of Don Lorenzo Milani, Rosy Bindi, and of Mons. Giovanni Paccosi, Vicar for the Pastoral Care of the Diocese of Florence and President of the Diocesan Committee Don Lorenzo Milani.

Next year will be 100 years since the birth of Don Milani and the Region together with the Municipality of Vicchio is thinking about events, initiatives and to set up a Committee with all those involved to celebrate the prior of Barbiana

For the mayor of Vicchio “Don Milani’s message is a strong, disruptive, very topical message. The March to Barbiana will once again be an opportunity to reiterate this, to reflect, to recall the commitment to be bearers of peace, especially in this historical period we are experiencing. Next year we will celebrate the centenary of the prior’s birth and we are organizing the celebrations. An institutional committee is being set up with the Region, the Metropolitan City and the Municipality of Florence, the Municipalities of Vicchio, Calenzano and Montespertoli, while a technical-scientific committee has already been set up, headed by Rosy Bindi, who will speak at the march. The mayor underlines the synergy with the organizers of the Peace March

The event, we remind you, is organized by the Municipality of Vicchio and by the Cultural Institution Don Lorenzo Milani Documentation Center and Barbiana School in collaboration with the Don Lorenzo Milani Foundation and the Don Lorenzo Milani Group Association of Calenzano and with the patronage of the Region Tuscany, the Tuscan Regional Council, the Metropolitan City of Florence and the Mountain Union of Municipalities of Mugello.