Family Afternoon - Naso, August 27, 2023

“How a pearl is born” was the message around which last Sunday’s Family Afternoon revolved.
The oyster “weeps” in pain, suddenly inhabited by the intrusive sand; it does not know how to be rid of it and is overwhelmed by it, but… suddenly, from that pain, from those tears, from that infinite loneliness, the precious pearl is born! So it is in everyday life, in the varied succession of moments made up of work, encounters, study, rest, reflection… (as we explored throughout the year with the Point of Light): tears arrive which, offered to Jesus, become pearls.
The 116 chairs set out in our garden, arranged as a hall, were all taken from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., while many children, sitting on the ground on an improvised “sea,” gave up their places to the adults, many of whom… remained standing, a bearable effort given the splendid view.
Murals, garlands, shells, panels with drawings, dances, songs and skits, presented by the children and young people who took part in the activity camps, made everyone share in the journey made since June 18, twice a week. The parish priests of Naso, present and happy, expressed their joy and gratitude to God and to the Sisters of Beautiful Love for having put at the service of the Church and of the territory the gift of “bringing together” everyone with love, like one great family.
The mayor, present throughout the gathering, underlined with strength and warmth his amazement at seeing the barriers and parish boundaries come down for a common purpose. The beautiful sign of this is the facilitators, representatives of all the parishes, who worked tirelessly with love, even putting everything back in order the next day! Finally, to the parody of the closing song that retraced the journey made, a shower of balloons, released by the sisters from the little balconies, made the children even happier and eager to return next year!
The next day, the community of Naso experienced a painful event: someone set fire to a field in Naso, sowing fear and dismay; that day, at Mass, during the homily in one of the churches, I learned, a pearl was spoken of… a pearl born from our tears.

Sr. Rossana G. - Community of Naso (ME)