Event of October 11-12, 2025
Anniversary of the Maranathà community
As every year, we gathered together to remember the day when the community first came together, on October 12, 2013, Alcamo.
This year we reflected on Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John: “A new commandment I give to you: love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
Once again, we reflected on the meaning of building community and living community life, not merely as a reality where people pray together for two hours a week and then forget about it afterward; not as an occasional commitment. Community is first and foremost a place where we exercise our capacity to listen, to meet one another, to engage in deep and meaningful converstions, and to offer charitable hospitality: a place where relationships are created.
Over many years we have met many people, with different backgrounds and experiences, and even with contrasting ideas. Our calling has always been to welcome these people, listen to them, meet them where they are at, and love them in the light of the Word. We also like to emphasize that even someone who attended our meetings only once is still a member of the community.
Our special guest this year was Emanuela Perrone, who shared an important life testimony: as a homosexual woman, her encounter with Christ renewed her, and now she has a beautiful family, with a husband and two wonderful children.
Her experience shows how the lack of love within the family — even in subtle and seemingly hidden ways — can be the root cause of the most diverse kinds of suffering for the human person, with unimaginable consequences for one's life. A very similar testimony is also shared by Luca Di Tolve, a very dear friend of mine.
I strongly encourage you to listen to their testimonies, which are now widely available on YouTube. Listening to them has also helped me greatly, and I have learned a lot from them.
A special thanks goes to all the members of the community who worked so hard in organizing everything: the Mazzonello family, Elena, Antonietta, all the members of the Music and Singing Ministry, the Bardelli family, Don Gabriele Dipaola, and Father Tuttocuore.
A special thank you goes to all of you who follow and support us with your prayers. May the Lord grant you peace!
We look forward to seeing you again next year!
