By Paolo Lòriga
The special experience of the charism of unity made by Sondre, Astrid and Veronica, from Norway, during their ten months at Loreto School.
‘There is wonderful news: we are expecting a baby. If all goes well, he or she will be born in December.’ Sondre and Astrid made the announcement on 19 June, at the closing ceremony of the 2024-2025 course for families at the Loreto School. ‘We were offered tests to see if the baby is normal. These proposals,’ says Astrid, ‘disturbed us, because I know that the only thing you can “do” if you discover a “mistake” so early on is to have an abortion. But that is out of the question for us.’ She adds: ‘Sondre and I have decided not to have these tests. Before God, we are ready to welcome another child, whatever he or she may be. At the first ultrasound, I wasn’t afraid.’
Both Norwegian, they left Oslo to arrive in Loppiano on 7 September 2024 to attend the Loreto School with their blonde and friendly little daughter Veronica. They have been married since 2022. Sondre is an oil tanker inspector, while Astrid is a primary school teacher with a recent master’s degree in pedagogy and is attending courses at the Sophia University Institute. Astrid attended the Gen School in the Loppiano 20 years ago, which is why she speaks excellent Italian. ‘These ten months at the Loreto School,’ she comments, ‘have been a much more important period than we could have imagined. I wanted to be able to return to Loppiano with Sondre.’
In Oslo, they frequented the community of the Focolare Movement, participating in meetings and initiatives, and rejoicing in the presence in the capital of the women’s focolare, which is ecumenical in nature, because it is composed of focolarine from various Churches. ‘But here in Loppiano we have had a special experience of Chiara Lubich’s charism, getting to know it in depth,’ Sondre explains with well-chosen words. He explains the effects: ‘I feel truly changed in many ways, as a husband, father, friend, neighbour, son and brother. Before, I was insecure and afraid of others. Now I have a genuine desire for friendship. I have never experienced so much love before, and my wounds can finally heal. The Loreto School is an instrument of the Holy Spirit.’
Astrid looks at her husband with shining eyes. She caresses his forearm and looks back on the year: ‘I have understood better what God is asking of me in my vocation to marriage. I have been able to discover and deepen our calling as a couple and as parents. During this year at the Loreto School – and thanks to the group responsible for the School and the experts involved – we have been able to talk about all aspects of life: from finances to prayer, from nutrition to housework, from communication within the couple to the spirituality of unity, from our relationship with the Word of God to the life of the Church. And then our relationship with the other families of the School, coming from various continents, opened up great horizons for us and we experienced a deep mutual trust with them. They rejoice in Veronica. ‘She has been an explorer from the beginning, so she found ways to interact with everyone, starting with the children of the Loreto School families. She has become confident, proud, strong, full of joy and life. She felt so loved that she gained more confidence in herself.’
Norway has 5.5 million inhabitants, 70 per cent of whom are Protestant and 3 per cent Catholic. ‘Returning home, our intention,’ Sondre confesses, ‘is to truly live the Gospel and the charism of unity in our family, in our parish, in the Focolare community, at work and with our friends. I see much more than before the value and greatness of small acts of love, and I see a mystical dimension in all this.’ Astrid continues: ‘We feel that God is calling us to commit ourselves to families and young people, in collaboration with the diocese. We don’t know how yet, but God will show us.’