In the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the celebration of the Jubilee of the Foranie Catanzaro Nord and Catanzaro Centro took place. To preside over the Eucharist was the metropolitan archbishop Msgr. Claudio Maniagowho addressed an intense homily to the numerous faithful and full of spiritual meaning.
“The Jubilee is a gift, not an event to be archived”, the Archbishop began, exhorting the community to welcome this extraordinary time with an open heart, as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. “This is not a shelf product to put in the pantry, but an opportunity to put order in your life, starting from the essential”.
Msgr. Maniago recalled the value of Sunday, the day of the Lord, as a privileged opportunity to meet Christ through the word and the Eucharist. “Mass is not an obligation to fulfill – he underlined – but a moment of spiritual nourishment, a desired encounter with the Lord who speaks to us personally and gives us the bread of life”.
In a particularly touching passage, the Archbishop turned his gaze to the world wounded by wars and injustices, recalling the faithful to their task of custodians and witnesses of hope: “We live in a time that seems to want to suffocate with news of despair, but we Christians believe in that little flame that wins the darkness: the hope that comes from the Risen Christ”.
He then cited the words of Pope Francis, remembering that the Jubilee is a journey for all Christians, called to be “pilgrims in hope” and protagonists of life, not passive spectators.
In conclusion, Msgr. Maniago entrusted to the Virgin Mary, in the month dedicated to her, the path of faith of the community, invoking her as a mother and teacher in keeping the hope that does not disappoint: Jesus Christ.
The meeting ended in an atmosphere of profound communion and renewed enthusiasm, a tangible sign of a diocesan church on the way that wishes to rediscover the roots of their faith to bring them to the hearts of the men and women of our land.