| Dear friends of La Romita, The season of Pentecost brings us all together for a celebration that has shaped the most significant moments in La Romita’s history and continues to do so to this day. I feel the urge to write to you to bring us all together in the spirit of Pentecost, the feast on which we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. It is a celebration that invites us to make a fresh start and speaks of a fire that illuminates our hearts and empowers us to take steps we would not have had the courage to take on our own. (…) La Romita is a vibrant place where life flows. And in this flow of life, plans take shape, news emerges, and one senses how the Holy Spirit truly continues to blow over La Romita. Just as in Bernardino’s day, the Holy Spirit never ceases to surprise us through encounters, people, unexpected gifts and small yet great miracles that fill the heart with wonder and gratitude. This year we have experienced many new developments and many tangible signs of the presence of Providence(…). The first big piece of news is the arrival of Erica as a new resident at La Romita. Because of the energy she devotes to serving the community and its people, and because of the testimony she bears through her life story. Every person who comes here brings their own story, their talents and their individuality, and this fits into an already vibrant and rich tapestry in which the presence of Jeryes continues to play an important and significant role in the life of Romita. Within this tapestry of people and life stories lies great richness, in the opportunity to be moved by encounters with others. Various projects that have been close to our hearts for a long time have finally been realised, and I would like to thank everyone who made this possible. The terrace is now complete and has once again become that special place where one can contemplate the wonders of creation. I would like to thank Roberto for his dedication and the expertise he has shared, as well as all the friends who have contributed to the realisation of this project with their active support. Thanks to Reinhard and his great artistic skill, the new pews for the church were also crafted. A wonderful piece of work that truly enhances the beauty and Franciscan simplicity of the little Church of the Annunciation, which now appears even more beautiful and harmonious. However, a truly significant step was the installation of the new solar panel system. It was a vital project for the future of the hermitage, which, thanks to the involvement of all of you, was finally brought to fruition. Special thanks go to Valentina, who oversaw and managed every detail throughout the entire process. But a huge thank you goes to each and every one of you who has contributed as much as you could through your donations. One particularly moving sign was that the collection box set up for this project raised almost exactly the amount needed to make it happen! It is a sign of how Providence works through people’s generosity. Another person who has embodied providence in a very real way, and to whom we are infinitely grateful, is Fulvio. Just as Bernardino’s jeep was threatening to let us down and we were wondering how we were to cope with this predicament, his call came unexpectedly, in which he gave us a car that proved to be perfect for the Romita. A gesture that still fills us with great amazement and even greater gratitude to this day. Having witnessed so many signs of life and providence over the years, our sense of responsibility to preserve what has been entrusted to us grows ever stronger. La Romita lives on and continues to welcome people, yet it also bears the marks of time and the changes in the world around us. The severe hailstorms that have struck our area in recent years have caused significant damage to the roof of La Romita, meaning that extensive repair work is now required. This will be the next major project we tackle in the future, whilst once again entrusting it to Providence, which often manifests itself through those who regard this place as a shared home and continue to support its journey. (…) May the spirit of Pentecost continue to blow over this place and over our lives, renewing within us the desire for goodness, the strength of faith, and the joy of those who can recognise a gift in everything. Salomè You can find the full letter in Italian appended below. |
