There are 24 Christmas lunches and initiatives that the Community of Sant’Egidio has organized throughout Sicilytoday, December 25, and in the days before and after, bringing warmth and solidarity to those most in need.
In Messina, at the Church of San Francesco all’Immacolata, the traditional Christmas lunch took place which welcomed over 400 people. Elderly people, children, homeless people, families in difficulty and foreigners met together in a moment of celebration and sharing, served by numerous community volunteers.
“Christmas helps everyone to understand more the beauty of the simplicity of Bethlehem, but above all a people in search of wonder and peace. For this reason, we do not want to forget the weakest of our city, but also of the world, like the many who suffer in Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and in various places on the African continent,” declared Andrea Nucita, head of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Messina.
On the same days, similar lunches took place in Catania, Palermo and other Sicilian cities. In Noto, Christmas was celebrated with a special lunch inside the prison, bringing comfort to the inmates. Overall, over 4,000 people in difficulty were served by the Community of Sant’Egidio in Sicily during this Christmas 2024, demonstrating that the warmth of solidarity knows no boundaries.