Religious observances and community care in Italy

In the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, the association Famiglie per l'Accoglienza marked the start of its social year with a pilgrimage to the Madonna della Salute church in Marano Lagunare. The event included a communal Rosary and a testimony from a local couple, Lisa and Flavio, regarding their experience fostering a child with severe disabilities. The couple shared how they transitioned from considering adoption to accepting a foster child through an unexpected request from a school acquaintance.

In Pesaro, the community held its annual renewal of the Vow to the Madonna delle Grazie. This tradition, dating back to 1855 during a cholera epidemic, involves a procession through the city streets. The observance focused on the theme of ‘taking care’ of one another, emphasizing the importance of addressing social indifference and recognizing human fragility in the face of modern challenges.