The ‘Come and See’ Camillian community of Acireale in Sicily has had a rich and important experience: ten young men underwent the experience of the service-camp to engage in discernment about their vocations and thereby understand the project of the Lord for their lives.

The days of 13-21 July 2017 were marked by moments of prayer, thought and fraternity at the service of their sick and poor brothers and sisters and witnessed the presence of a number of Camillian religious: Fr. Paolo Calderaro, Fr. Salvatore Pontillo, the temporary professed Dario Malizia, and Brother Carlo Mangione. In addition, the presence of the Provincial Superior, Fr. Rosario Mauriello, was an encouragement to continue with these itineraries involving the animation of vocations.

There are very many initiatives in the Camillian institutions of the local area of Acireale: celebrations of the Eucharist, moments of prayer and fraternity, and very many opportunities to give and receive love.

Here are some testimonies that some of the participants wanted to share with us:

Domenico da Marsala: ‘The service-camp was a way of listening to God and serving Him. The phrases that I bear within me are: look at him, and the passage from St. John – pasture my little sheep’.

Emmanuel da Lecce: ‘The service-camp with the Camillians was a unique experience. In service to people in need, in the intense moments of prayer and in the intense moments of fraternity experienced together, I discerned the countenance of the risen crucified Christ. This experience really made me love the saint of Bucchianico’.

Gianluca da Napoli: ‘My experience of the camp for vocations of Acireale, thanks to the Lord Jesus, to my Camillian brothers and to my suffering brothers, made me feel at home. A sort of extension of my family, which I had not felt in Sicily. What a great joy it was for me to discover that I had brothers here as well. To end, I can say with real joy: I was at home and an air of freedom entered my lungs’.

Salvatore da Licata: ‘My recent experience in the service-camp with the Camillians touched my soul and enriched my spirit. To come into contact with the poor, with the last, with the needy and with friends of St. Camillus provoked in me feelings that I had not felt for a long time, ever since I was a child, and I felt curiosity about the new. Contact with people and with the workers there made me feel that I was in a family’.

These days have led us to be more aware that the charism of St. Camillus is alive and able to attract young men today as well.

Our hope is that the year of Camillian vocations, which as the Province of Sicily and Naples we have just begun, will be able to produce abundant fruits in the hearts of very many young men and in our own communities.

GALLERIA FOTOGRAFICA