Of Igor Traboni
The national pilgrimage of the little ones from Unitalsi will begin on Tuesday 23 June, with over 500 people (families, volunteers, healthcare workers, priests but obviously above all children) who will reach Lourdes and will experience, already on the train which will be transformed into a traveling arcade, a week of faith, hope and authentic sharing. For Unitalsi, in all its hundreds of branches scattered across Italy, this pilgrimage with children is one of the most anticipated events of the association year.
The blessing at the beginning of the journey and the recitation of the Rosary will mark the first two faith events of the journey to Lourdes, led by the national assistant of Unitalsi, Archbishop Rocco Pennacchio, together with the national president, Rocco Palese and the vice-president, Cosimo Cilli. Immediately afterwards, again to seal the beginning of the pilgrimage, the “logbook” will be distributed to the participants and will accompany the young participants during the days of their stay in Lourdes. And when the first evening falls, like the others of the week, another particularly significant moment will be the traditional “Good Night” prayer and story, designed to introduce children to the climate of serenity and friendship that will characterize the entire experience.
Each day, both on the train and once in Lourdes, will then be marked by other moments of spirituality and participation: after awakening and the moment of prayer to thank Jesus for the new day, the children will be involved in the educational and narrative activity entitled “A magnificent story: Cinderella and Bernadette”, the underlying theme of the previous edition of the pilgrimage. The fairy tale and the figure of Saint Bernadette will help the little pilgrims to reflect on the values of simplicity, trust and love.
Other very special moments then await the participants once they arrive in the French town: in the church of Saint Bernadette, for example, the performance “A magnificent story: Cinderella and Bernadette” will be held, followed by the Liturgy of the Word, while the traditional “Greeting to Mary” will be held in the “Garden of Recollection” and will conclude each day, always in an atmosphere of prayer and total trust.
Unitalsi thus intends to fully involve hundreds of children — together with their increasingly numerous families — from all over Italy, many of whom experience situations of fragility, even serious illness or disability. And the theme, but above all the presence of the family, is increasingly a constant in the pilgrimage of children: over the years, in fact, this experience has become a fundamental point of reference not only for the young pilgrims, but above all for their parents. For many families, in fact, participating in a “normal” international pilgrimage would represent a goal that would be difficult to achieve without the organisational, logistical and human support of Unitalsi. And therefore thanks to the presence of volunteers, healthcare workers, doctors, priests and companions, capable of making the pilgrimage to Lourdes welcoming, safe and full of authentic relationships.
Furthermore, this year, and for the first time, a team of qualified osteopaths will also be present to support the participants. An initiative arises from the collaboration with the CURA Social Promotion Association, chaired by Alessandro Accorsi, with the support and patronage of the Italian Osteopaths Registry. A free service that fits fully into the spirit of the pilgrimage: walking together, caring for and accompanying every child and every family on their human and spiritual journey. Another fundamental point of the pilgrimage is to have many participants share a journey with other people living in similar situations, finding support, friendship and new energy to face daily challenges, many of which are very difficult.
But the true light of this, like other previous pilgrimages, will always be brought by them: the children, even the sick or disabled ones, capable of that amazement that in Lourdes becomes contagious even for the older ones. «And in front of the Massabielle Cave – comment the Unitalsi leaders – it is precisely these children who testify that fragility can be transformed into an extraordinary force capable of uniting people, families and communities».
