What remains of this September dedicated to the rediscovery of Sant’Agabio.
What remains is the image of a community gathered closely around its saint, which, having come together in the Cathedral to celebrate him, rediscovers the beauty of being together.
What remains are the gatherings exploring the origins of devotion to the saint, which subsequently led to the founding of our parish, through the insightful words of the Cathedral Canon, Don Mario Perotti, who masterfully took us back through the centuries, right up to more recent times, drawing on the memories and experience of Don Stefano Gallina, our co-pastor until the 2000s.
We are left with the commitment of so many associations, whose members devote their time to serving others, each with its own distinctive character and charisma, right up to the local health authority (ASL), with the Health Festival – which was, unfortunately, disrupted by inclement weather – though the health promotion associations were present despite the rain.
We also recall the concert by the pupils of the music department at the lower secondary school of the Bellini Comprehensive School, who prepared diligently, supported by their teachers, for this first public performance just a few days into the new school year; to them we extend our thanks for the example they have set: music that unites different cultures and religions. A fine sign of integration and fellowship. This fellowship continued during the communal dinner in the church square and at the lunch for the elderly on Sunday 24th at Pinetina Alessia.
What remains is the joy of the children who, in front of the church, brought to life a ‘Palio dei Rioni’, recalling times long past but revived after a long hiatus; it was lovely to see families seeking out the neighbourhood they belonged to and, for some, reminiscing about times gone by, faces and experiences that have contributed to the growth of many. This ‘A-Palio’, won by the Drago team, is, in a way, a victory for everyone: for those who took part, for those who worked hard to organise these events, and even for those who simply left their homes to come and see what was going on.
We are left with the testimony of our young people who took part in World Youth Day in Lisbon, with Pope Francis, at the end of an afternoon of games and tournaments, complete with their respective prize-giving ceremonies.
There are also a few tears and a touch of melancholy as we bid farewell to our don Massimo Sozzi, who is ready to embark on a new pastoral journey in the parish of Trecate, and to our Sister Erminia, who today, Sunday 1 October, during the 10.30 am Mass, bid farewell to our community, before heading, in the coming days, to the Mother House of the Sisters of the Immaculate Queen of Peace in Mortara.
During this celebration, the Mons. Brustia Foundation also awarded three scholarships to three deserving pupils who have completed their lower secondary education at the Bellini Institute. This was an opportunity to remember a parish priest, who went on to become a bishop, and who left a deep impression on the hearts of all who knew him.
This is our neighbourhood, gathered round a church. A community of people from different backgrounds, cultures and religions. Together, however, we must make a commitment: we must help one another to nurture the beauty we possess, the joy of sharing, and rediscover the gift of being a community.
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