The days from April 26th to 28th were marked by a strong spiritual communion between the Renewal in the Holy Spirit Movement and the Camillian Charismatic Family. The 46th National Convention of the movement, held in Rimini (Italy), welcomed the sacred Relic of the heart of the heavenly Patron of the sick and healthcare workers, surrounded by his spiritual sons and daughters, religious, and laypeople together. In praise and thanksgiving, we entrusted to God, through the intercession of St. Camillus, all the sick and those who lovingly care for them. In the opening Mass of the Convention on April 26th, Father Medard Aboue, General Councilor, read to the Assembly the Message of greetings and encouragement sent by the Superior General, Fr. Pedro Tramontin. It was an occasion shared by the Camillians and the movement to raise awareness about the cause of the sick, so that no sufferer is left alone but has hearts that welcome, hands that heal, ears that listen, and words that comfort beside them.

In front of the crowd of more than eight thousand people present at the event, the emotion was immense to see the great attention given to the charism and spirituality of St. Camillus. Together, we prayed and enjoyed the insights shared by distinguished speakers on the theme of the Convention: “When you pray, say: Father!” (Luke 11:2).

Indeed, true prayer – in its various forms: praise, request, lament, rebellion, silence, listening, abandonment, etc. – always leads us to the merciful Father (Luke 15:11-32), and from Him, we recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters (Matthew 6:9-15). Thus, we become capable of enlarging the space in the tent of our hearts (Isaiah 54:2) to build the kingdom of God, a kingdom of peace and brotherhood that our world so desperately needs.

In the concluding Mass, drawing from the gospel of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8) appropriately interpreted in the current reality of the Church, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis concluded the Convention by entrusting to everyone’s meditation this reflection: “In the current Church, it seems to me that the Lord is pruning some dry branches. Three in particular: the branch of large numbers; the branch of the heaviness of structures; the branch of current protagonism. The Church bears fruit not when it promotes its structures, but when it makes known the Lord Jesus, calling for conversion and holiness.” In doing so, it becomes small, agile, and synodal to testify that God is the Father of mercy.

All the moments experienced during the Convention: prayers, teachings, confessions, Eucharistic celebrations, meals, rest, travels, etc., were truly special moments of grace of the Holy Spirit for all participants.

A heartfelt thank you to the Sicilian Neapolitan Province, its Provincial Superior Brother Carlo Mangione, and the Charismatic Healing and Deliverance Group of Naples who organized and coordinated this beautiful initiative of Camillian participation in the Convention perfectly.

Fr. Medard Aboue MI