With the final Mass in Theotokos, Loppiano, which was enlivened by songs of various nations, rites and Christian denominations, the Net working: a Church in relationships conference concluded.

There were significant impressions of these four days:

• “What struck me most was, an open-world, real relationships, sincerity …”.
• “A new spirituality, beautiful, fresh, happy faces, Jesus in the midst.”
• “It helped me to see the Church and the priesthood from another perspective.”
• “A Church that looks to an unconventional future, in step with the times.”
• “A living fraternity and community: a great encouragement for us seminarians”.
• “The idea of communion is not in the head but comes through life … Later this year in seminary: I want to live as a priest, man of the world and not of the village.”

Participants in this event included 268 young priests and seminarians (approx half and half) and a dozen youth thinking of the priesthood, from 38 countries in Europe and beyond. Four priests and one seminarian attended from Ireland.  Also among the participants were ten married Greek-Catholic priests, three Evangelical Pastors and an Orthodox.  One of them remarked: «For us the relationships between the churches are not easy. Now I have so many fellow Catholics!»

The age profile was striking – averaging 40 – and also the fact that three-quarters of them had never before come to one of our international meeting. It was truly a new generation of priests, everyone had hoped for so much —a “miraculous catch!”. The reality of Loppiano shone out. The welcome evening in the courtyard of the Theotokos, dinner with the locals in 35 different places, the evening Masses with the Little Town, were on each occasion a climax.

Then nine workshops animated by experts of the Opera which allowed everyone to be leaders jointly addressing “hot” topics, challenges and problems that became clear and concrete, leaving participants deeply grateful. The panel discussion at the afternoon plenary gathering opened up many other topics to be explored.

The impact of “Networking” was “an unexpected miracle” that showed new ways to deliver the Ideal with freshness and immediacy to this postmodern age, and has aroused great hope.