As soon as we arrive in Varigotti, we go to dinner. Stefano, from Turin, invites me to his table. For some years now, he has been living in Washington, D.C., where he is working on a doctorate in philosophy. With us, there are a few other people. There is Daniele, from Brianza, who directs a small hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. On his right, there is Javier, Mexican but transplanted to Germany. Finally, there is Andrew, originally from Korea but who grew up in Canada and now is stationed in Budapest, where he is involved in pastoral work with university students.
This is a typical scene during the retreat for priests in formation of the Fraternity of St. Charles, which we informally call the “Young Priests” retreat. Every year, in the first half of February, all of us missionaries who have been ordained in the last five years return to Italy to have a week of formation. This year, we were not missing a single man: 25 young priests carrying out their mission across five different continents.
The program was rich. In the first days, there was a theme of current events that we would grapple with together: the influence that technology has on our lives, on the lives of our houses and on our relationships in general. We spoke about how to use or not use the instruments, but also which paths to propose to young people and families that we encounter. There was also space to speak about Artificial Intelligence, seeking to understand the potentiality, the limits and the risks.
The true source of our friendship is the fact that Christ has called us and sent us, together and for a task.
In a second moment, we discussed topics more strictly related to priestly life: what does it mean to welcome persons far from the Church or who are returning after a long time; our experience of confession; the preparation for preaching.
And so, for an entire week, we were able to listen to the stories and the experiences of our brothers. Stories that continued even into our free time: at table, walking along the beach or getting coffee. What filled me with gratitude was not the variety and the beauty of the stories, but having recognized, yet again, that I and my brothers are united as one, even if we live thousands of miles away from one another and speak different languages.
It is the same experience that the disciples had with Jesus when, after having been sent on mission two by two, they returned to Him. Gathered again around the Teacher, full of joy and wonder, they recalled and shared among them the miracles they had seen happen: the healings, the miracles, the conversions. Who knows what sentiment of unity and friendship they felt, in the clear perception of sharing the same unique calling, the same unique mission, of being chosen as a conduit of what truly saves man. Their joy did not come from the miracles in and of themselves, but from the experience of belonging to that singular friendship that has the power (and, in a certain sense, the duty) to change the world.
And so, two thousand years later, in Varigotti, the same thing happened to us. Gathered around the Teacher, telling about and sharing the miracles that we have seen occur, we were able to rejoice and enjoy the true source of our friendship, which is the fact that Christ has called us and sent us, together and for a task: to announce Him to all peoples.
