They arrived in September to attend the family school and immerse themselves in the life of the community alongside their two children. The decision to come to Loppiano was a difficult one, but a clear sign dispelled all their doubts. “Now we understand why people were telling us to come.”
By Paolo Lòriga
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Tibor, almost five years old, comes running towards you cheerfully to say hello, giving you a “high five”. Dorota, who is three, shows all her initial shyness as she advances slowly, but she is determined to come and welcome the guest, whom both of them have been so eagerly awaiting that they didn’t want to go to sleep after lunch. They understand a little Italian and know a smattering of phrases, thanks to attending nursery school and afternoons spent playing with the five children of the same age from other families at the Scuola Loreto.
They arrived here with their dad Marek and mum Annamaria, after a journey of 1,100 kilometres, from the city of Banská Bystrica, in Slovakia, on 20 September. For the two children, too, the move to Loppiano was a challenge. Their parents left the house they were renting, gave away many of their belongings and handed others over to relatives and friends. His beloved bicycle was the last item Tibor left with a friend. But the bike was the first gift he received upon arriving in Loppiano.
Annamaria and Marek will stay until June. They come from Christian families and have been active in their parish. She encountered the spirituality of unity and in 2013 came to Loppiano to take part in the Gen School. Once they were married, six years ago, the idea of spending a year in Loppioano began to take shape in her mind. Marek knew little about the Focolare Movement and, faced with such a prospect, “I immediately saw all the risks and negative aspects,” he says, somewhat amused. “We contacted families who had already attended the Loreto School, whilst couples from Slovakia promised us their help, because everyone assured us that the Loppiano experience would be fundamental for us too.”
He admits: “We no longer felt alone in the decision-making process, yet I wasn’t convinced I wanted to take this step,” and confides: “I didn’t want to leave a job I enjoyed.” Marek, in fact, is a photographer and communications specialist. So Annamaria, an English and music teacher at primary schools but on maternity leave, reassured him: “Don’t worry, we’re not going.” Marek, knowing his wife’s wishes, replied: “Yes, let’s go.” And so, they went back and forth between “No”, “Yes” and “Yes”, “No”.
Pope Francis’ catechesis on discernment was particularly helpful, so much so that Marek turned to God: “If you want us to go to Loppiano, give me a job that I can do from there too.” Just before leaving, I found not one, but two jobs. It was a clear sign that God wanted us in Loppiano, even though I wasn’t quite sure where I was going. Annamaria adds: “Despite all the uncertainties, we felt a great sense of peace when we handed over the keys to our home. We loaded our whole life into the car and set off.”
“Do you regret it, after six months in Loppiano?” Annamaria looks at her husband with a smile, inviting him to speak. “Life in Loppiano has been changing me from the very first moment,” Marek confides.
Chiara Lubich’s example of being the first to love inspires me every day. Here we have more time to be together as a couple and as a family. The many topics covered at the Loreto School, life of the little town, and the life journeys of so many people you get to know enrich me greatly and give me greater freedom. So many people are wonderful, and being with them is a pleasure and a rest for the soul. We are discovering what really matters in life.” Marek turns to Annamaria. It is her turn: “It’s the same for me. And I am coming to understand Marek’s way of loving better, so that I can love him better. We are more at peace, without so many worries, in an environment that really helps us to focus on what is essential and on the present.”