Inauguration of “Vinea Mea”, the Centre of Spiritual formation for priests
October 22, 2013
A major restructuring of the XVI century architectural complex that houses this Centre has just been completed.
Located in the international small town of Loppiano, near Florence, the Centre of Spirituality “Vinea Mea” is a school of communion and dialogue, that in 30 years has trained more than 4000 priests, deacons and seminarians, both Catholics and from other different Churches, that came from some 60 different countries.
“Vinea Mea”, explains Fr. Imre Kiss, head of the Centre,“ offers a permanent formation in the light of the spirituality of communion of the Focolare Movement. The one year course includes spirituality, theology, anthropology, ecclesiology, as well as workshops on current issues such as youth, family, communication, dialogue with cultures and religions. As priests express the need to experience in practice a spirituality based on communion so that they can pass it on to men and women of our time, the school aims to respond to this need though sharing life in small communities”.
The Centre works in synergy with similar centres in other small towns of the Focolare Movement in Poland, Kenya, Brazil, the Philippines, Argentina. For the last five years it has also promoted courses and annual workshops for educators in seminaries to support and promote a priestly lifestyle based on communion.
The inaugural conference on October 22 will mark the beginning of the course 2013/2014 at “Vinea mea”. This will be held in the ancient XVI century Franciscan convent, restored and renovated to be better equipped for the experience of community life. Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement and Mons. Mario Meini, Bishop of Fiesole will be among the main speakers of this conference.
Updated on October 16, 2013
UF
Since 2009, the work of Loppiano Lab has involved more than ten thousand citizens from the north to the south of the country, promoting initiatives, projects, round tables of discussion between civil sciety, the world of economy and work, culture and formation.