June 30 – July 5, 2026: a pastoral experience to cherish.

Perched among the majestic peaks of Pollino National Park, overlooking the Ionian Sea like a natural balcony, lies a place where time seems to slow down to make room for what truly matters: Alessandria del Carretto.

It was in this tiny, welcoming village in the province of Cosenza—home to just over 300 inhabitants—that I spent six wonderful days. It was an experience I carry in my heart, filled with joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of communion.

It all began with a special day a few years ago: the wedding of Sister Angela Napoli’s nephew.

I was invited to provide the music for the celebration, which involved preparing and leading the parish choir.

That event, experienced through music and prayer, proved to be enlightening. It clearly revealed a desire among some of the locals to learn, to listen, and to deepen their own faith journeys.

From that spark came the proposal to offer a week of reflection and in-depth study focused on the Eucharistic Celebration.

The sessions took place in the parish church with a group consisting entirely of women. Some were older, with clear eyes marked by wisdom; others were in their fifties or early sixties; and still others were full of the energy of those in the prime of life. Different generations united by the same desire to listen, share, and rediscover the beauty of their faith.

Together, we journeyed along the path of the liturgy to rediscover how the Eucharist is truly the source and summit of our entire Christian life. It is not merely a precept or a repetitive ritual, but a genuine encounter with the Father of Life, who gathers us to nourish us with His Word and His Bread. It is in the Eucharist—from that very source—that communion with God and with our brothers and sisters flows! It is listening to God together, and being nourished by Him together, that makes us a family, a community, the people of God, the Church!

Each day, we have reflected on a part of the Mass to grasp its meaning, its significance, and its value for each of our lives, and to discover the path of transformation to which it invites us—a path each of us is called to walk and put into practice after every celebration.

This is how we grow and journey within the Church: taking small steps, yet always keeping our gaze lifted high—turned toward the Father, toward the ultimate goal.

And as we make this ascent, God—as Don Primo Mazzolari used to say—is able to take hold of our hearts if He sees that we are weary from the climb.

In the Eucharistic liturgy, we contemplate His love for us. And we constantly affirm it through the twelve "Amens" that are set, like pearls, throughout the celebration.

It is the "Yes" to God! To the Rock!

It is the "Yes" upon which—both as individuals and as a community—we build the future. It is the "Yes" to the Father, allowing ourselves to be grasped by Him, as if in an embrace, so that we may remain steadfast.

When understood and lived, this free gift surprises us, amazes us, and captures our hearts.

It surprises us because it is always God who takes the first step toward us. It amazes us because He never tires of offering His whole self for us. It captures our hearts because His love does not respond to merit, but solely and exclusively to our need.

All of this stems from the knowledge that enables us to celebrate "consciously," "actively," and "fruitfully," transforming us—if we so desire—little by little. As Saint Paul reminds us in the Letter to the Romans: "Do not conform yourselves to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

We parted ways with the proposal to launch an online weekly reflection group based on the Sunday Gospel.

They will decide the timing and the format.

We entrust this pastoral "dream" to God, the Shepherd!

Geographical distance and age prompt us today to venture into new ways of caring for His people, embracing—with courage and creativity—the opportunities that technology offers us.

We are Shepherdesses, daughters of Father Giacomo Alberione, who urged the entire Pauline Family to use the swiftest and most effective means to proclaim the Gospel. His mandate still resonates vividly within us: to bring the Word to all people and to the whole person, overcoming every barrier and isolation, so that no periphery remains excluded from the embrace of the Good Shepherd—the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Sr. Piera Cori sjbp