takes a village

Aug 21, 2025

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You’ve heard the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”? Well I had first-hand experience of the beauty and power of this truth on Sunday.

I’ve been off the radar and under the weather these past couple of weeks since I’ve been both fighting a nasty bug (which is lingering) and enjoying the company and inspiration of many who have become good friends in the north of Italy over the past 15 years.

Veronica and Luca had asked me to baptise their first child on my next visit and they extended an open invitation to their friends and family to join them for the celebration of Martino’s baptism during the Sunday Mass.

What an inspiring gathering, the Mass, the Baptism, and the hours of food and drink in the grounds of this 1000 year old monastery.

Over the years this community, most of whom I now know well, have become a parish, even family, for me.

Welcome to the adventure of life Martino Giordano Mario.

And thank you to this wonderful community of faith for your inspiration to me.

5 Comments

  1. Benvenuto Martino

    Che tu possa presto guarire completamente, Giovanni

    Reply
  2. What a lovely friendly place for you to enjoy and recover. God bless you Father John. Thank you for sharing..

    Reply
  3. What a blessing!!! Hope you are well recovered now John

    Reply
  4. Wonderful John and so very glad you have the love and support of this community – and recognition of your gifts of mind heart. Blessings and I hope you recover well. Joy

    Reply
  5. Che benedizione da essere abbracciato in questa communita di fede…una seconda casa. Goditi ogni momento…e guarisci.

    Reply

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