CANOSA – Enter the church wearing a protective helmet. Returning to a place of your heart, the same one where you were baptized or swore eternal love before God, to see it wrapped in iron scaffolding which, intertwined together, intends to give it new life. Is called ‘Sunday at the construction site‘the initiative conceived by Don Carmine Catalano, parish priest of the church dedicated to Saints Biagio and Francesco di Canosa of Pugliain the north of Bari.
«The parish has been inaccessible since last November, when the renovation work began which will last for at least 18 months», he explains while the construction site has become a coming and going of faithful who, attentive and with yellow or red helmets on their heads, listen the words of a guide who tells what has been done so far. «The works carried out up to this moment are 30 percent of the total – continues the priest – and 70 percent of them have been financed thanks to the 8 per thousand of the CEI, the Italian Episcopal Conference».
The visit among scaffolding and photos that narrate the past and present of the parish was divided into four shifts: the last one is set for 9pm today.
“We decided to satisfy the curiosity of the parishioners who wanted to see their church again by opening the doors of the construction site, but we also wanted to raise their awareness to give us a hand because there is still a lot to do”, he says Don Carmine.
To raise funds, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, a market was created with sweets, bags and clutches created by the children and young people of the parish for their mothers. «The proceeds will be donated entirely to the church and will contribute to its restoration», says Giada who is taking care of the sale of the products. «It’s an emotion that I can’t explain: I was born in this church and I remember it very well. Selling her like this is exciting me and I hope that in two years she will return to her former glory”, declares Francesca, elegant in her blue suit while she keeps her helmet on. «Here I was baptized and my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Seeing the scaffolding makes me so tender. I hope the work will be finished soon”, adds another parishioner. “Times are long and we need everyone’s support”, concludes Don Carmine.
