Seed Sown in the Desert

A Franciscan presence on the streets of Taranto

“If a grain of wheat… dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12,24)

Taranto, Paul VI neighborhood: here the Brothers Minor Conventual from the province of Puglia work in one of four parishes in the district that sprang up in the last 50 years to house industrial working families. The area has almost nothing to offer, the inhabitants are isolated in huge cement apartment buildings that rise amidst acres of abandoned, undeveloped land.

In this vast, difficult, often dangerous neighborhood the church becomes “yeast” of humanity and of hope. Here fear, hatred and anger reside. The inhabitants are deeply wounded, having learned from early childhood the language of violence; one must be strong in order to not be crushed, one must defend oneself against everyone, no one can be trusted.

During the month of July, spent with the friars in Taranto, the challenge of how to create human relationships with the locals provoked me to seek out the correct attitude to have, the right words to say in the midst of this conflict-oriented atmosphere. What to do in this situation? How can the friars, the church, testify to the love of Christ in this mission-field.

I found the answer in a single word, “compassion,” in other words: being present, simply standing alongside the other, feeling that which the other feels.

The most significant experience from my time in Taranto was the “Street Oratory” (street camp) organized with a group of volunteers in the most difficult part of the neighborhood, where children and youth group up sharing the street with wild dogs that populate the area.

Forced to grow up far too quickly, these kids come from dysfunctional families, parents in prison or in drug rehabilitation centers. Many of them have stopped dreaming because early on their life was marred by suffering and injustice, and they have learned to respond with violence and the same injustice.

However when their eyes meet a loving gaze that does not desire to judge or criticize them they once again are free to laugh. The little onese act like adults, but give them a ball, carry them on your back or make them run and they revert back to their true identity: children. It is important to recognize in them the profound need to be loved and to love, to receive a hug or a kind word, to feel important in the eyes of another.

Seeing this situation, the fear that attacks my heart comes from the knowledge that a true change, a radical turn-around, is very difficult; these children’s destinies seem determined from the outset! Their only option is the street and all that it has to offer. Sometimes after being with them I had the impression that all our work had been in vain. There did not seem to be any positive results or changes. So after it was all over many of the volunteers, resigned, said, “It’s a waste of time.” These children relax during the games but then return to their normal lives of fights, provocations and vendettas.

This mission is difficult and yet at the same time stimulating! Here our conventual fraternity can truly live out the Franciscan charism in its “purest” form, serving the marginalized. Though often in discouraging situations and with no gratification, the community moves forward rebuilding where others have destroyed, becoming channels of peace in the logic of unconditional love, in a constant openness to listen to others and in being a welcoming presence. Practically speaking they seek to create alliances with the various agencies present in the area, developing common projects (like the aforementioned “street oratory” as well as soccer camps, dance lessons etc…) Already there has been much fruit, not the least of which is the construction – finally! – of a church building after many years in which the parish has had to make do without one.

There are many possibilities hidden behind the faces of the brothers and sisters that could truly change this little world! Many collaborate with the parish in order to build a better Paul VI neighborhood, offering their personal resources and talents. Drop after drop the stone is worn smooth and takes form: this presence is a seed in the desert that, once grown, will help bring salvation.

Friar Vito Cosimo Manca

Pastoral Service in the Parish: A Journey of Friendship

In September when my rector told me what pastoral work I would be doing this year, I did not imagine that it would be so difficult and enriching.

I was asked to teach catechism in the St. Rufino Parish, the cathedral of Assisi. However, I did not expect the additional request, made by the parish priest, that I lead the post-confirmation group for adolescents. I was given the responsibility of guiding this group of young boys and girls, with the help of a co-teacher, in a journey of faith, illuminated and strengthened by the sacrament of confirmation that they had recently received.

We involved these adolescents in fixing up the rooms given us by the parish priest for our activities. We wanted to create a space just for them: a large carpet to cover the pavement in order to offer comfort and to make our meetings as informal as possible. We also designated one room to be the “screaming room:” when someone is angry or stressed-out they can enter and let out a deep shout or scream to release some of their tension.

The most difficult part was developing a program to follow throughout the year. Not having ever had an experience of this kind I asked the advice of at least 10 different people, my confreres and lay people; I read around a dozen books about leading small groups as well as various catechetical programs from “Catholic Action” and World Youth Day… I also asked the young people themselves to write out topics that they would like to discuss as well as questions they have that they find difficult to share with others their own age. In this way we could research the answers together.

The goal was to construct relationships, starting with the young people themselves, seeking to reach them where they are at, in their daily life of school and family. We hoped to help draw out their thoughts, their point of view about aspects of life that are important for them and that at times even cause them to suffer. This seemed like a good premise, a good starting point, but I had not calculated a fundamental truth: that you can really only learn to do something like this through experience and often through failure. No matter how good a plan may seem when it is written out or in your mind, reality has its own dynamics that don’t always reflect your project.

I almost always return home after these meetings, aware that I have accomplished only a tiny part of what I had hoped to communicate in the meeting. It seems as if these young people’s minds are completely occupied with other things and that they are not at all interested in the topics we are discussing.

And yet meeting after meeting the group becomes stronger, a more cohesive unit. Some of the adolescents begin to open up and share their experiences and deep reflections. They begin to show more interest. We often talk about friendship and its various dynamics. For this reason we chose together to name the group “Friends.”

I am happy to be able to take part in this journey with these young people, to accompany them for this moment in time. It is an experience that stretches me. I often feel that my work is useless but in other moments I am surprised to discover hidden fruit, unexpected results. I continually need to learn to trust in Him, who is the only one capable of reaching hearts. On this path I am learning to be a teacher (even if this title seems a little exaggerated in my case!), a friend, a big brother…

For as long as we continue this journey together with joy and simplicity, finding support in one another, this group will remain a group of “Friends!”

A brother from the community