The book dedicated to Don Luigi Taliani, who passed away in 2022, was presented in Santa Croce. In service at the parish of the Immaculate Conception (previously also in Santa Croce), journalist, assistant of the Italian Catholic Action and the Fuci, teacher, founder of Emmaus, Don Luigi was a witness of faith and perseverance. The book dedicated to him “The chronicler of God Don Luigi Taliani – a life for Catholic Action and for information”, Vydia Editore, is edited by Daniela Meschini, teacher of Italian and history, regional delegate of the youth and national sector of Catholic Action.
How did the project start?
“It all started – explains Meschini – from the diocesan Catholic Action team who chose me because I was a person very close to Don Luigi’s entire life. From my first school camp in Castelsantangelo, I was 18 years old, until his death, passing through the various tasks of Catholic Action, the collaboration at Emmaus, the closeness to his splendid family, the various projects carried out thanks to and with him”.
What is the aspect that most characterized him?
“The ability to read today and look beyond. Not taking anything for granted. The desire to let the territory speak, the propensity to collaborate and involve many Catholic and lay realities. The ability to find the difficult balance between being a priest and to be a journalist”.
How is the book structured?
“It is the story of Don Luigi through those who traveled the longest stretch of road with him since it was impossible to contact all those who knew him. It is structured in four parts: the first collects the testimonies, the second the memories, the third concerns the Fuci and the fourth what they said about him”.
Was it a complicated job?
“It was very tiring but pleasant. Collecting stories and testimonies from those who knew him thoroughly – directors of Emmaus (born in 1986 as a newspaper and associative tool in 1986), journalists, guys from the Fuci, many members of Catholic Action and others – involved a pleasant and profound work of contact and knowledge.”
What do you feel when you leaf through the book?
“What I felt at the presentation. Once again what always happened when Don Luigi was there occurred: a meeting of many people and ideas, often very different from each other, who had the pleasure of meeting again, even between the pages of a book”.
