From June 14-16, 2024, a group of about forty people, including Camillians, the Daughters of St. Camillus, the Ministers of the Infirm (Camillian Sisters), the Lay Camillian Family, and young people from Lazio, Abruzzo, Puglia, Campania, Basilicata, and Sicily, travelled to the conversion places of St. Camillus, San Giovanni Rotondo and Manfredonia, to experience spiritual moments through a 25-kilometer walk. The group also saw the presence of Father Gianfranco Lunardon, Vicar General of the Camillians, Father Baby Ellickal, General Consultor for Formation, Sister Laura Cortese, Vicar General of the Daughters of St. Camillus, Brother Carlo Mangione, Provincial Superior of the Siculo-Napolitan Province.

This was the second edition, as a year ago the outward journey of St. Camillus from the Capuchin convent in Manfredonia to the Valley of Hell was retraced. This year we wanted to propose the return journey from the Valley of Hell, where St. Camillus says, “No more world, no more world,” to Manfredonia on the steps of St. Dominic’s church, where everything begins and where it is necessary to return to make memory of the love that God poured into the heart of St. Camillus.

The theme of this year’s march was “I believed in love.” Last year we meditated on the dream of St. Camillus that he had to convert into God’s dream for him, passing from places of certainty and light, crossing dark and gloomy paths of fear and uncertainty, until you arrive at new places that you did not expect and that immerse you in the wonder and joy of a life that is all to be rediscovered. This year precisely from the recognition of a project of God in the life of St. Camillus it was necessary to turn our gaze to a love that one cannot now keep to oneself, but sets one’s whole existence in motion to witness to it.

The journey was accompanied by six catechesis: love against all hope, love that forgives, love becomes a gift, wounded love, love becomes a proclamation, and memorial love. This catechesis led to reflections on believing in God’s love that always goes beyond all forgiving wounds and becomes memorial and witness when experienced.

With grateful hearts, participants in the march concluded their journey on Sunday June 16 by celebrating the Eucharist in the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, to whom St. Camillus was devoted. May the Lord bless these initiatives of prayer and fraternity and arouse in many souls the desire to follow Him in the footsteps of the Giant of Charity.

Fr. Salvatore Pontillo MI