June 19, 2024, 7:09 pm
3 min read
CATANIA – A story that begins in 1974 to develop up to the present day with an eye towards the future, telling the story of a community of volunteers who accompanies and directs the most fragile people in the area of the archdiocese of Catania towards a full recovery of their existence.
The Diocesan Caritas of Catania – over 350 thousand interventions were carried out in the last year – celebrates its fifty years of service, embodying the many ways of helping those most in need, thank you also 8×1000 to the Catholic Churchdonations from citizens, companies and collaboration with third sector associations.
“Half a century of love”
It was discussed this afternoon at the Archbishop’s Seminary of the Clerics of Catania, where the meeting was held “Half a century of love – 50th anniversary of the Diocesan Caritas of Catania” in the presence of civil and religious institutions, including the prefect of Catania, Maria Carmela Librizzi, and the archbishop, mons. Luigi Renna.
“Today we ‘sing’ a story – he highlighted the archbishop – who ‘walks on the legs’ of the men and women who are or have been directors, deputy directors, volunteers who in the diocesan centers that ensure constant proximity to the poorest brothers or in the parish communities, are the people of God who embody the most virtue great”.
The meeting, moderated by the journalist Adelaide Barbagalloalso experienced a moment dedicated to communicating solidarity with Except La Rosa and Giuseppe Castiglia and brought to the public’s attention the testimonies of volunteers and beneficiaries that were introduced by the intervention of director of Caritas, Don Nuccio Puglisi.
“Poverty has increased”
“Fifty years have passed – he said the director – and poor children who were ten years old then are sixty today, but many of them are still poor because, simply, we all continue to call them that. Celebrating this anniversary will mean admitting that, in fifty years, poverty has increased in the most subtle, invisible, ‘digital’ connotations of poverty.”
A poverty that is evolving and intensifying in a worrying manner. The latest survey by Caritas services, released last May, highlighted the city’s economic and social difficulties in a structured way: +119 thousand interventions carried out between 2019 and 2023, going from 237 thousand to 356 thousand, marking a +34%.
Numbers that testify to the commitment of hundreds of volunteers. The Help Center, in Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, is a social emergency room that guarantees assistance, breakfast, dinner, clothing, baby products, toilets and a change of clothing.
In the field, in addition to low-threshold services, there are also more complex forms of support aimed at directing guests towards independent recovery: reception for women who are victims of violence with minors, consultancy dedicated to processing bureaucratic procedures, financial support for the payment of utilities , legal and psychological consultancy and banking mediation through microcredit.
The archbishop
“In a memorable speech to the Italian Caritas – he concluded Monsignor Renna -, Saint Paul VI said: ‘Above the purely material aspect of your activity, its prevalent pedagogical function must emerge’. What can it mean: that every year Caritas gives us a report on poverty in the country and trains volunteers?”
“Also – he added – but not only: it teaches every community that it is called to relive the experience of the Acts of the apostles, who ‘sold their goods and distributed them to the poor. And among them there was no needy person.”
The calendar
Tomorrow another day of great emotional intensity for volunteers and guests. During the morning, thanks to the collaboration with the youth ministry, meetings dedicated to young people will take place at the Help Center of the central station to talk about the importance of the daily service of hundreds of volunteers.
At 17 to the church of San Nicolò l’Arena in Catania (piazza Dante Alighieri 12), the Eucharistic celebration will be held and a subsequent moment of fraternal agape with the guests.
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Published on
June 19, 2024, 7:09 pm
