On the test of mixedness

Silver olive tree canopies move gently in the breeze from the hills outside Rome. A country road climbs up from the Via Salaria, the ancient Roman consular road. Signs point nearby to the ancient abbey of Farfa, which was a religious bulwark in the Middle Ages. And here is a modern gate with a large statue of St Joseph on the left, a St Michael the Archangel on the right. It is the welcoming sign of the Marian Community - Oasis of Peace. Men and women from various states of life belong to it. According to the Code of Canon Law, the Community is a public association of the faithful of diocesan right, on its way to recognition as an ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life. Consecrated men and women have made vows that are still private, and all of them, brothers and sisters, consecrated men and women of common life as well as secular ones, and spouses, share the same spiritual goal, which they summarize as follows: “To intercede for peace and to bring about peace in every place and situation, under the guidance of Mary”.

We are in Passo Corese, a hamlet of just over 6,000 inhabitants in the municipality of Fara in Sabina, province of Rieti: the peace of Sabina, a historic province in central Italy, surrounds this community. We are welcomed by Father Martino Lizzio, the general manager of Communities - Oases of Peace. “Welcome”. A wide smile. A handshake. And he leaves us in the company of his vicar, who acts as our guide. Sister Daniela Veltri was studying psychology and was thunderstruck by a Community mission in her township, not far away. She points to the low, one-story, red-brick tenements forming a wide quadrangle.  

In the center, a large statue of Our Lady. “Let’s start here, because this is where it all begins”, she says. 

The architects and builders of this community drew inspiration from the lessons of history. While everything appears modern—the houses, the walkways, even the statues—a sense of ancient heritage permeates the atmosphere. Yes, we find ourselves in the Third Millennium, where solar panels adorn the rooftops, yet simultaneously, we are enveloped in the tranquil ambiance reminiscent of a monastery cloister.

Around us the brothers and sisters of the community move silently. Brother Mathias da Silva has just made coffee. An elderly sister comes out of the chapel where she has concluded her hour of adoration. Men and women together, from many backgrounds and languages. And there are not only consecrated people. Also praying in the chapel is an elderly, non-consecrated man. This is the glimpse that is already striking upon arrival: a mixed community “based on dialogue, respect, inner peace, without denying the fatigue that this entails”.

Since its inception, the community has embraced the coexistence of men and women, sharing in their journey of consecration. “This is also a testament to peace,” remarks Sister Daniela. Such inclusivity is facilitated by the community's legal structure, wherein both men and women can hold positions of authority, both locally and generally. In fact, from 2001 to 2013, following the leadership of the founding father, the community was overseen by a General Manager, Mother M. Valentina Fregno. They clarify: “Other essential roles and ministries for the community's life and mission can likewise be entrusted to either a consecrated man or woman without distinction.”
To trace the origins, we must journey back to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the first half of the 1980s. In the annals of the community's history, we find the following account: “Numerous among us were profoundly moved by their encounter with the Queen of Peace. Mary, in a sense, 'encountered' them at pivotal moments in their lives, guiding them towards the source of peace, Jesus.”

Among those impacted was a Passionist priest from Verona, Gianni Sgreva. A scholar in patristics and initially skeptical about the events in Medjugorje, he remained curious. Sister Daniela recalls: “Father Sgreva, too, was touched by the grace of Medjugorje. While attempting to guide young people to monasteries, they kept returning to him. Thus, he had the insight to establish prayer spaces conducive to encounters with God, what he termed 'specialized clinics for afflicted hearts'.”

Thus, the inaugural Oasis emerged on May 18, 1987, in Priabona, located in the province of Vicenza. Three years later, the suburbicarian diocese of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto bestowed the initial ecclesiastical recognition. Today, nestled among twelve hectares of olive trees, generously donated by a benefactress, stands the community. Rows of low brick houses that crown the statue of the Virgin. Within this landscape lie communal spaces, private dwellings for brothers and sisters, a medical facility for the elderly, accommodations for guests, a library, kitchen, and dining hall. The atmosphere is inclusive. Present within the Passo Corese community are twenty-two consecrated individuals: nine brothers and thirteen sisters. Globall, there exist six other Marian Communities, housing 80 consecrated members spread across Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, and Cameroon. These communities oversee spiritual centers, recognized as “oases of peace” by many, and manage significant Marian shrines in Quixadà (northern Brazil), Mbalmayo (Cameroon), and Deliceto (southern Italy).

Life in our community is imbued with prayer and contemplation. “Fundamentally, we are a contemplative community, yet our spirituality is not detached from the physical realm. There's plenty of work for each member,” emphasizes Sister Daniela. And alongside this labor, there's an abundance of prayer. “For us, prayer isn't mere spiritual routine; it's a profound journey toward reconciliation—with God, with ourselves, and with others.”
These are challenging times for peace, yet the urgency for it has never been more pronounced. There's a growing desire to cultivate peace starting from one's own individual existence, “and this is how peace between peoples and nations is achieved”. The community observes a remarkable level of interest from various quarters. While vocations may have decreased compared to the initial fervor of thirty years ago, there's a notable engagement among non-consecrated individuals. Monthly meetings are held for married couples, drawing participants of all ages. Additionally, there's a vibrant presence of young people actively involved in the community's activities.

Men and women from various states of life belong to the Oasis: consecrated men and women of common life, some of whom are priests, consecrated seculars, spouses, and young people. The charism of peace is the spiritual goal of all, even though the members of the Community each live in their own environment: the consecrated in spiritual centers known as “Oases of Peace”, the consecrated seculars and the spouses in their workplaces and homes, meeting periodically, usually once a month, with the other members of the Church family for formation and prayer. The community offers a plate of pasta, the rest comes with visitors who share the food. And this too is a community experience.

In one of the last issues of the Community magazine to explain the rule, Sr. Maria Gabriella Turrin wrote: “Just as in the home we learn to welcome each other and love each other, so in the community we learn to live together by welcoming differences in age, character, personality, culture, and we mature together”.

Collectively, we determine our course: every Wednesday, consecrated men and women convene to address present challenges and anticipate future endeavors. In this collaborative space, we experiment with innovative communal lifestyles, exploring new avenues of shared existence. Since 2019, this initiative has been integrated into the Forum of New Forms of Consecrated Life, an assembly established to engage with the directives of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Through theological and juridical inquiry, this forum seeks to elucidate the distinctive identity of participating ecclesial entities, discerning their novel contributions to both the Church and the broader world.

Strolling through the expansive cloister of the Community provides a profound insight into this truth. “Medjugorje,” Sister Daniela reflects, “is more than a mere location; it embodies an experience—an encounter with the love of God, which we strive to cultivate through diverse means.”

The community marked the arrival of the New Year 2024 with itinerant spiritual exercises. Looking ahead, their aspirations include a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, symbolizing a journey of faith and renewal. Last year in Bologna, the Community orchestrated a widely embraced mission, which evolved into an inter-charismatic endeavor. The mission involved various ecclesial realities and parishes in the city centre, and consecrated men, spouses and young people participated with a continuous presence, in prayer and dialogue, visits to homes and workplaces, and meetings for young people. “So many initiatives to radiate peace”. 

A path through the trees leads to the large chapel of the Crucifix, with a statue of great impact for its verism. Sister Daniela concludes: “Those who come to stay with us - it can be a weekend, a longer period, there is also the formula ‘Three months for me’ - share prayer, the table, but also the work of the land. This land also shows us a way to peace. As Pope Francis says, we are guests of Creation, not the masters”.
A path winding through the trees guides visitors to the imposing chapel of the Crucifix, adorned with a strikingly realistic statue. Sister Daniela reflects, “Those who join us for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, perhaps through our 'Three months for me' program, experience a shared journey of prayer, communal meals, and hands-on work in the fields. In cultivating the land, we find a profound connection to peace. Just as Pope Francis reminds us, we are not masters of Creation but rather guests, entrusted with its stewardship.

by Francesco Grignetti
Journalist with the Italian National paper “La Stampa”

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