On January 18 and 19, the formation weekend for fraternity leaders took place in Italy. It was a powerful time of renewal and mission, lived in the joy of service and fraternal prayer. A Franco-Italian couple share their CANA experience with us.
“Married for 22 years and parents of three children, we are a Franco-Italian couple. We live in Bologna, the northern capital of Italian gastronomy. We have been members of the CANA fraternity in Modena for three years. In August 2023, we took part in CANA Week in Trevi, and since last September, we’ve been part of the CANA national team in Italy.
On January 18 and 19, at the Baggiovara convent near Modena, the annual formation weekend for CANA fraternity leaders took place.
The main theme of these two days was the accompaniment of couples in difficulty within the fraternities.
Firstly, CANA national leaders Silvia & Massimo, and Father Federico, the Community’s priest, reminded us what it means to live out responsibility in the service of a fraternity, from a Christian, ecclesial point of view, and also how to exercise “authority” as a fraternity leader while remaining “Primus inter pares”, brother among brothers; but also how to recognize each other’s gifts, accompany the couple in consolidating their love by living the Gospel, and finally, how to help them find their place within the Church.
The importance of not “neglecting” one’s own couple as leaders was also stressed, as they are an essential element and fundamental support for the fraternity as a whole.
On Saturday evening, Sylvie, a consecrated sister of the Community, led us through a powerful moment in which the couple took center stage, listening to each other, expressing mutual tenderness and blessing each other.
The following day, Markus & Natalie, from CANA International, shared their experience as a couple, giving us some original and sympathetic ideas for animating times of fraternity, as well as concrete tools and prayers to the Holy Spirit for discernment in difficult situations, so as to always remain attentive to the Lord who speaks to us and guides us.
What graces we received during the weekend…
We left with the certainty that, in the exercise of our small and great responsibilities, we are instruments in the hands of the Lord; we must therefore be able to conform ever more closely to his will and to remain attentive to our brothers and sisters in order to bear fruit in our lives.”
Sandrine & Riccardo