Regional Unitalsi at conference in Ravenna. President Barbolini: “We want to start from here”

Unitalsi starts again in Ravenna. Almost 150 members of the association which deals with the accompaniment and assistance of sick and disabled people people from all over Emilia-Romagna met this morning in San Giovanni Evangelista for the regional conference. First a moment of prayer and reflection led by the diocesan assistant, Don Pietro Parisi and then Mit celebrated by the archbishop of Ravenna-Cervia, Monsignor Lorenzo Ghizzoni. Finally, in the afternoon, a visit to the city’s monuments.

“Ravenna is one of our most active subsections and within the regional association – he explains the president of Unitalsi Emilia-Romagna Barbolini -. We are here because Patrizia (Amici, the head of the Ravenna subsection) invited us and we knew that the welcome would be unique. Today there are many of us and hope is our common denominatordespite the difficulties that exist. We are people of faith and we are here. The pilgrimages have started again, we will have three more at regional level this year. Unfortunately the numbers are not those they were before Covid but it is not just the fault of the pandemic, it’s a change that’s happening. However, I believe that we will be able to start again, precisely from pilgrimages. We want to get back on the road, even from Ravenna.”

“It is the first time that Ravenna has organized a conference at a regional level – he says Patrizia Amici, commissioner of the Ravenna subsection – for us it is a great satisfaction. Also because we are able to give greater prominence to our reality. There was a good participation, especially from Emilia. Unitalsi starts again from beauty because theUnitalsi is joy.”

“Our faith always involves a leap – he explained Archbishop Lorenzo in his homily -. Not everything is given, not everything is mathematical. You need a ride, you need to trust. A leap that is never in the dark.” But in Christ, in a God who became flesh. Every age of life needs its own style, a way of knowing Christ. “Even when you become adults and then elderly, when misfortunes happen and you experience an illness – exemplifies Monsignor Ghizzoni -. These facts can undermine our faith, our knowledge of Christ. We ask ourselves: why? Why doesn’t he intervene? Why doesn’t he work miracles? Even in these cases we need to make a leap, to renew our trust in him. A physical, moral or spiritual suffering, a sign of sin in our life: in these hardships our faith can become strongif we cling to him, if we trust him.”

This is a bit like what happens when we lean on each other: an experience common to many on the Unitalsi pilgrimages. “Being together, in joy and in suffering: this is how the faith we profess becomes alive – explained Marinella, a lady in a wheelchair from Unitalsi in Carpi -. It is not just reciting the Creed but giving oneself to others. Thanks to those who do it every day. Thank you for the good that I received from you with joy and generosity.”