My name is Sarra Marta Lupășteanu, I am nineteen years old and I was born in Trent (Italy).Every time I say this sentence I realize how much my story weaves together places, cultures and beliefs that often do not meet easily.I am an Italian-Romanian girl and above all I am Orthodox, daughter of Father Ioan, priest of the Romanian church here in the city, and of Presbytera Delia Rodica. Our church is located in Via San Marco, in the heart of the historic center: a small Romanian world nestled between the Castle of Buonconsiglio, streets and houses that tell of centuries of Trentine Catholicism.
Growing up here has meant living naturally with the awareness of being a minority. Not a closed or isolated minority, but a different presence, which often requires explanation. When my classmates asked me why at Easter we follow a different calendar or why there are so many icons in our church, I understood that my daily life and theirs did not completely coincide. Yet, I have never felt divided: Catholics and Orthodox believe in the same God, only with different traditions, rites and sensitivities. This is the source of a reflection that stays in my heart: we need dialogue between communities but also good will, because understanding does not come by itself, we must want it.
I study Philosophy at the University of Trento and this choice has increased my ability to observe and understand what I experience. Entering a university environment, where identities mix and sometimes clash, made me reflect even more on what it means to belong to a denomination perceived as “other” compared to that of the majority.
Castillo del Buen ConsejoChiesa di San Marco
Sometimes I feel as if I am walking on a bridge: on one side, my Orthodox community, with its roots, its songs and traditions that I have absorbed since childhood; on the other, the Trentino society in which I was born, studied and grew up and which, for the last two years, has become my official homeland after obtaining Italian citizenship. I speak Romanian, I know the traditions of my country of origin and my family has taught me to preserve them, but I am also a girl deeply connected to Trent, to its rhythms and its customs. When I enter our church in Via San Marco I feel enveloped by a familiarity that no other place gives me: the golden icons, the voices of the choir during the Liturgy, the community that greets my father calling him “Părinte“. Yet, this difference never made me feel like a stranger. On the contrary, it taught me to look at the world from multiple points of view. In a city with a strong Catholic tradition, the presence of other Christian denominations shows that faith can be plural without losing its truth.
Today, as a young girl building her own future, I know that my identity comes from the meeting of two dimensions, it is a lens through which I read myself and the world. It is the awareness that roots do not prevent you from growing elsewhere. I am a “bridge” and now I am no longer afraid of being suspended: it is right there, between two shores, that I have learned to dwell. And in this space I have discovered my most authentic freedom: to be able to carry both worlds with me without having to choose, allowing them to dialogue, complete one another and make me whole: rooted and still journeying, with my heart open to the future.
by Sarra Marta Lupășteanu Article published in the magazine of the Parishes of Saints Peter and Paul and St. Martin in Trent December 2025 Foto: Chiesa romena di Trento – e Magda Ehlers by Pexels
From the rubble of war to the wonder of snow: this was the journey of a group of children from Gaza, welcomed to the Veneto region of Italy, thanks to the Padua Embrace Children and Civil Protection association. For many of them, marked by deep wounds in both body and soul, the day spent in Val Saisera, in Northeast Italy, was a rare moment of lightheartedness.
The day, organized by the Associazione Famiglie Nuove del Friuli Venezia Giulia (New Families Association of Friuli Venezia Giulia), was attended by about forty people, mostly women and children. It was a simple event, yet full of meaning: playing in the snow, laughter, tobogganing and a spirit of togetherness that allowed the memories of the war to fade into the background at least for a few hours. On that Sunday in January, the long-awaited snow came almost as a sign of welcome, as if to respond to the children’s desire to be able to see it for the first time.
Many of these children arrived in Italy in 2025 thanks to a humanitarian corridor activated to provide urgent medical care. They included young amputees, children injured by explosions, or suffering from illnesses impossible to treat in a land devastated by conflict. Their families have painful stories: mourning, forced separations and arduous absences. Yet, alongside the suffering emerges an extraordinary capacity for resilience. Nothing captured the spirit of the day quite like the nine-year-old girl who, despite having lost both legs, was all smiles and laughter on the toboggan, eventually finding the strength to join the other girls in a dance.
Imam Kamel Layachi, imam of the Muslim communities of Veneto, who encouraged collaboration between Muslim and Catholic communities was a focal point for the various groups involved. Parishes, associations and volunteers joined forces to offer not only assistance, but also opportunities for integration. The children are already attending school and the mothers are taking Italian courses, in view of a stay that could become longer and open up to employment opportunities.
At the same time, the health needs are urgent, in particular for prosthetic limbs not covered by the National Health Service. For this reason, fund raising initiatives have been launched, with the aim of restoring autonomy and dignity to those who have lost a limb.
The day on the snow ended in Tarvisio (Italy). Welcomed by a group of New Families from the region, by the volunteers of the Friulclown association, by Don Giuseppe Marano, the parish priest of Valbruna and by the tea and biscuits offered by the Alpini – the group moved indoors for lunch (prepared by the Muslim community of the city of Udine) in the parish hall. A shared lunch and a moment of common prayer brought things to a clos. It was a simple but powerful gesture, which united different cultures and faiths under the sign of fraternity. The words of Palestinian families tell better than anything else the meaning of the experience: gratitude, emotion, relief. One mother wrote, “You have allowed happiness to touch our hearts again”.
The Italian volunteers also received much in return: in the eyes of those children they saw pain and joy, fragility and strength and the awareness that, even with small gestures, it is possible to rebuild fragments of humanity. In a world marked by conflict, that day on the snow represented a small, but authentic, space of peace.
From a story by Friuli (Italy) New Families Photo: FN Friuli
I was doing some work around the house when I cut my left hand deeply. As I tried to stop the flow of blood before my parents accompanied me to the hospital casualty department, our six year old grandson Emanuel, who was spending that day with us, watched closely as I hurriedly bandaged my hand: “Does it hurt a lot, Granddad?” I reassured him and to help me, he gave me a sweet! Shortly after: “Would you like another sweet, Granddad? It’ll do you good.” After the wound was stitched, bandaged and with a splint on my left thumb (fortunately the tendon was unharmed), when I got back home he came running to me: “Granddad, how are you doing now? Maybe a coffee would help”. “Thank you, Emanuel, after lunch: now let’s go to eat”. My wife had made his favourite sausages. After eating his, he took another one from the serving plate, cut it up and without saying anything put it on my plate. Observing these gestures made with moving simplicity, I recalled that Jesus indicated children as a model for us.
(Giovanni C. – Italy)
A providential holiday
“Beyond Us”, an association that supports people with disabilities, among its many activities organizes a holiday in San Bernardino. The President, whom I have known for years, said to me: “Why don’t you send Benedetta with us?” The idea was appealing, but would the place be suitable for wheelchair users like my daughter? After a visit it seemed that it would In addition, our friend Daniela kindly offered to accompany her and there would also be a nurse there. Benedetta was enthusiastic. I couldn’t believe it. Before leaving, we attended a dinner to meet the other holidaymakers. The atmosphere was cheerful. On 3rd August, Benedetta and Daniela left in our car for getting around locally. I really hoped my friend would not get too tired… I trusted and entrust everything to Jesus. The first news from both of them was reassuring. When they returned I hardly recognized my daughter: she was relaxed and overjoyed especially because she had been able to attend Mass every day, celebrated right there in her and Daniela’s room. God always surpasses us in generosity!
(M.B. – Switzerland)
When you lose your self-sufficiency
The month just past has been a month of “passion,” in the most physical sense of the word. An extraordinary month, in which physical pain was cradled by the tenderness of brothers. My eagerness to recover quickly—that sin of pride which wants always to feel self-sufficient—betrayed me. There were complications after the operation, my knee swelled up, and the doctor was firm: rest and ice. In that bag of ice I found a strange form of prayer. I found myself “small”, dependent on my brother for a glass of water or a lift in the car. But it was precisely in this fragility that I rediscovered the treasure of the priestly community in which I live. I understood that fraternity is not just eating together, but having the trust o say, “I need you”
Dependence on others is not a defeat, but the guarantee of our humanity. Today as a retired priest, I cultivate a few square meters of the world in my garden. And as long as I have a voice (and a crutch to support me), my garden will always be open to those looking for hope.
(Don Peppino G. – Italy)
Curated by Maria Grazia Berretta
taken from the Gospel of the Day, Città Nuova, year XII – no.3 – May-June 2026)
“It is very touching that the children of Rome thought of the IRAP (Audio Phonetic Rehabilitation Institute). This sum is precious, above all because it is a gesture that comes from the hearts of children.
During this past term at IRAP, we have tried to be “sparks of life” in the midst of the death that surrounds us. For us, this gift is itself a spark of life: it makes us feel that we are not alone and that, behind this gesture, there are concrete efforts, the faces of joyful children, hands joined together… All this is a seed of life and fraternity that touches us deeply. Thank you.
We are certainly living through difficult times but we continue to hold fast to hope and to choose life every day. This means going against the current of what is happening in Lebanon today. It calls for constant efforts, which we must make again and again, because nothing can ever be taken for granted.
Today in Lebanon, the word “peace”, seems to be losing its meaning. Many people don’t believe in it anymore and sometimes neither do we. At one point, even the Time Out, the daily moment of prayer for peace shared around the world, seemed pointless to me. How could I expect others to believe it, if I myself no longer did?
It became necessary to go deeper in order to rediscover the true meaning of peace: first of all inner peace, which is a challenge in a context of war, violence and hostility. Not allowing yourself to slip into hatred of the enemy, overcoming anger in the face of injustice, ripping out from your soul everything that can corrupt it… it’s a continuous struggle.
At Easter, Jesus’ greeting to the apostles, “Peace be with you”, resounded in a new way in my soul and I rediscovered that he is our true peace.
Active commitment to others is a way out: it frees us from isolation and makes us stronger. ”
IRAP (Institut de Rééducation Audio-Phonétique)
compiled by Maria Grazia Berretta
The Middle East emergency is ongoing. Every contribution helps bring relief to the many families affected by the scourge of war: many have lost their homes, others seek refuge in centres that continue to open their doors despite increasingly limited resources.
Actions, initiatives, activities and world events to generate a network capable of living and testifying that universal brotherhood is really possible. This is the driving force behind United World Week (UWW). Supported by the United World Project together with the Focolare Movement and Youth for a United World (Y4UW), this global action takes place every year from 1st -7th May, crossing continents, oceans and becomes a concrete opportunity to transform values such as unity and peace into shared experiences.
People of different cultures, ages and backgrounds, each in their own city and community, embrace this invitation with the aim of creating authentic meeting spaces, networking energies, ideas and testimonies capable of generating real change.
This year’s edition proposes a strong and timely theme: #ChooseToDialogue. In a world marked by conflicts and growing divisions, it becomes even more urgent and meaningful to rediscover the value of encounter, listening and mutual understanding. Choosing “Dialogue” with courage today means opposing the logic of conflict and opening paths of peace; overcoming distances and transforming differences into opportunities for unity. The proposal for this UWW? A daily journey that invites you to experience this choice in various areas:
• May 1st – Interculturality & Dialogue
• May 2 – Art & Social Engagement
• 3 May – Health, Sport and Ecology
• May 4 – Economy and Work + Education and Research
• May 5 – Communication and Media
• May 6 – Active Citizenship and Politics
• May 7 – Peace & Human Rights
Various methods and proposals are available to make this happen, from the Time-out, an invitation to a shared moment of silence and prayer that unites everyone in asking for the gift of peace, to the Inspiration Box, a resource full of ideas and suggestions to be put into practice during the week.
Don’t miss:
Peace Got Talent – Living Peace, the broadcast of Living Peace International from 14:00 (GMT+1, Rome time) on Saturday, 2nd May on YouTube (@ unitedworldproject and @livingpeaceinternational), offering inspiration through the talents and messages of unity and peace shared by young people worldwide.
Run4Unity: the global relay for peace. At noon in each time zone, young people “pass the baton” to the next country, creating a worldwide wave of unity that circles the planet. Many countries are already organising their stages as part of this global race, such as Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Argentina, Uganda, Burundi, New Caledonia, Italy and Croatia, among others.
– May Day Loppiano (Italy). From 1st-3rd May, the Focolare international town near Florence will host the 1st May event in Loppiano, the Festival of Fraternity dedicated to young people. ROOTS, discovering what unites us, is the title of the event: three days of meetings, stories, reflections, workshops, exhibitions, educational and sports activities focussed on the theme of roots and cultural diversity. An invitation to go deep, to rediscover one’s cultural and spiritual origins as a starting point for encountering others.
– Also in Portugal, at the Focolare’s little town “Rainbow” in Abrigada (Alenquer), 1st May will be an occasion for celebration and commitment to building a better world. Promoted by Youth for a United World, the event, with moments of sharing and workshops, will bring together people from all over the country and guests from different continents who believe that brotherhood is not just a dream but a reality that is built day after day, with concrete gestures of solidarity, dialogue and hope. The title of the event: “Connect. Do you have the courage to build bridges?”
How to organize events, share stories and join United World Week 2026?
Algeria is the largest African country by land area, and of its 48 million inhabitants, Christians make up less than 1%. It is the country Pope Leo XIV chose as the first stop of his African journey, which will then take him to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. He arrived on April 13, 2026, and his initial meetings with the Algerian community highlighted the life and work of interreligious organizations and initiatives that have been active in the country for many years, often little known.
One of these is the Focolare Movement, a network dedicated to spiritual unity that arrived in predominantly Muslim Algeria in 1966. Its activities in the country are animated by Muslim members—mostly women—who take part by working in small groups throughout Algeria. They offer assistance in local centers for the elderly, provide tutoring for students, or study together with them.
The experience of a “true” faith—one that “does not isolate but opens, unites without confusing, draws close without imposing uniformity, and fosters genuine fraternity”—was shared in French by Monia Zergane, a Muslim woman whose life has become “a sign of hope for our world.” In the services of the Catholic Church in Algeria, Christians and Muslims work “side by side,” she explained, sharing the same concerns: “to welcome, serve, listen, care for the most vulnerable, organize, secure financial resources, and ensure that activity centers are safe places that uphold human dignity.” It is a service to the most “vulnerable”—women, children, the elderly, the sick—lived “together” and capable of creating a “real fraternity,” she said, grounded in the conviction that “to serve humanity is first and foremost to serve God.” This commitment, she emphasized, is nourished by all the “beautiful” qualities brought into play: skills, dedication, patience, forgiveness, compassion, and kindness.
She also spoke of brothers and sisters who were an “immense help and comfort” to her during illness, recalling with gratitude how she “could rely on their closeness, their unwavering solidarity, their gentleness, and their prayers.” In particular, the presence of a Focolare community and the daily effort to put love of neighbor into practice, she acknowledged, “often challenges me and helps me understand that life is not primarily made up of great, visible works, but of a communion lived day by day.” Aware that fraternity is also built through “simple gestures—a smile, a greeting that comes from the heart, a kind word, a service offered without expecting anything in return—and through the small things of everyday life: exchanging good wishes for a feast, sharing a meal after a time of fasting, listening to the spiritual meaning of a celebration.”
