Two Friars Minor from Puglia took part in the spiritual exercises held in Loppiano at the end of August. It all began with an internet search and a desire to learn more about Chiara Lubich’s spirituality. Brother Gianmarco is to be ordained a priest on 26 September by Cardinal Pizzaballa.
by Paolo Lòriga
But what were two Friars Minor doing at the Spiritual Exercises in Loppiano (25–30 August)? Especially in the year marking the eighth centenary of the death of St Francis. And yet, amongst the 35 participants at this invitation-only event, they were there too. The mystery is soon revealed. Brother Alessandro explains carefully: ‘We were looking for a spiritual retreat and on the Internet we found various options. The one in Loppiano was ideal in terms of the topics covered and the dates that suited us.’ But then he adds: ‘Ever since I was young, I’d wanted to visit Loppiano and the idea of being able to come now, to experience it for the first time, made me decide without hesitation.’
Brother Alessandro Mastromatteo, aged 46, is parish priest in Bitonto, on the outskirts of Bari, in Puglia. A Friar Minor since 2000, he served as superior of the Friars Minor of the Province of Puglia and Molise for nine years. It was he who welcomed into the Franciscan Order – back in 2017 – Brother Gianmarco Cellamare, aged 37, now in Jerusalem, where he is studying Sacred Scripture and where he will remain for at least another two years. He is due to be ordained a priest on 26 September in Molfetta by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “In the run-up to my ordination,” explains Brother Gianmarco, “I am due to take part in a course of spiritual exercises. I wanted to share this experience with Brother Alessandro and, at the same time, I was keen to explore the spirituality of Chiara Lubich and visit Loppiano. I had, in fact, learnt about the founder of the Focolare Movement through the TV drama about her life broadcast by Rai.”
For both of them these retreats proved to be ‘interesting and offered new perspectives’; they appreciated ‘the great openness regarding various topics and the opportunity to experience them alongside lay people, to discover the richness of the People of God’. Furthermore, they appreciated “the presence of a team of speakers rather than just one person leading the whole retreat” and the “opportunity for constant sharing, with plenty of moments of fellowship, friendship, relaxation and fun”. And then, ‘in this place there are traces of St Francis, with the beauty of nature, care for creation, the simplicity of life, and the fact that we were staying at the “Vinea Mea” seminary, formerly a convent of us Friars Minor’.
“I was enriched by a number of testimonies,” emphasises Brother Gianmarco, “in particular those concerning the lives of Renata Borlone and the Chinese artist Hung. They are manifestations of God’s presence and beauty.”
Brother Alessandro confides: “It wasn’t a training course, but we were put in a position to welcome others with an open heart. That makes all the difference. Here we moved from talking about God to talking with God, in an atmosphere where we were able to slow down and pause.” And finally, he adds: “I was very struck by a realisation I had, namely that I did not need to add anything to my spirituality, but rather to strip away the superfluous.” Both have been a wonderful gift for the participants in the retreat and for Loppiano, and on 26 September we will all be spiritually gathered around Brother Gianmarco for his ordination to the priesthood.
