“Crazy for Love”

Meeting of the Italian RYVM
in preparation for Limerick 2007

The RYVM groups of both the Roman and Naples provinces met in Bussolengo (Verona) August 3-8, 2006. There were 150 present including young people, students and priests.

The gathering marked the closure of a pastoral year for RYVM and the opening of another. The theme discussed was “Pazzo per Amore – Crazy for Love” that will be the subject of our reflection this year as we prepare to meet all the European young people at Limerick in August 2007.

The days passed quickly between catechetical studies, discussions and prayer, which were intense but not burdensome.

The Provincial Superior of the Province of Rome, Fr. Danilo Bissacco, warmly welcomed those taking part.

The Preparatory Commission includes the following confreres: Alfonso V. Amarante (coordinator), Antonio Donato, Francesco Visciano, Luigi Ramazzotti, Pietro Sulkowski and Vito Lombardi. In addition to taking care of the organization of the meeting, accommodations, meeting rooms, food, etc, they had to prepare the content for the catechetical studies and the liturgy.

The study groups amazed us by the creativity of the young people and the extent of their knowledge. The work to be developed this year will be realized in five pastoral stages.

The most impressive moment, and indeed the most intense, was the prayer vigil that closed the meeting.

These days spent together by young people from our Italian communities established a strong and warm friendship among them. The moment of departure was sad and difficult.

At the end of August (28-31), the young animators of the Italian communities met in Pagani where together they prepared a booklet that will be used during the whole year.