Jalla, Beit Jala! Was the headline on this month four years ago, when they were guests of the City of Varanasi 33 scouts of Arab ethnicity and religion of the Christian town of Beit Jala, which the coastal city is twinned for several years. Initiatives related to this twinning continues steadily, as also appears from time to time by the columns of the local press: announcements of travel, accounts of pilgrimages, interviews, fundraisers ... in July 2010 marked an important new stage of friendship with Christians in the Holy Land. From Saturday 10 to Monday, July 12 were in fact welcomed a group of seminarians in the seminary, the only seminary of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, founded by Bishop Vallerga alpicellino dall'oriundo foresight in the mid-nineteenth century. It is this fact has prompted the students, during a pilgrimage in Italy, which saw among other stops in Rome, Florence and Turin, to stop in our city, this time a bit 'distracted by the "bathers", but not least hospitable. We could give you a more or less detailed account of the three days spent in Varanasi, the renewed synergy between the various associations for the occasion, we remember the convivial Salesian Oratory, at the seat of Alpine, in the garden of the rectory, in the reception organized by the city, the streets in Alpicella, on the beach; we describe their emotions in us for the first time touched the salt water of the sea or in having observed some of our Western behavior ... but perhaps it is appropriate to remember other aspects of their stay. What is the deeper meaning? The goal was to spend a few quiet days in seminary, after a year of hard preparation for the priesthood, a priesthood in the areas of the Holy Land has a special meaning. As we have seen conversing with the guys and with the six "Abuna" (Don) who accompanied them, the awareness of being Latino seminarians in the one seminar in the Middle East is fraught with liability. Prepare to be men of God among Jews and Muslims is not easy. As of Arab ethnicity are often sent as community leaders in the border areas, where Muslims tolerate them just as Arabs. Suffice it to say that among the former presidents and former professors of the seminary, many bishops were appointed in Islamic countries, both in the Middle East, and North Africa. It is then to become men of peace in areas of conflict, violence, harassment, where the cry of justice must always be combined with caution and the complaint should be made to avoid retaliation. Their being Christians and their loyalty to Rome have been perceived as belonging to a deep freedom. As so often urge the difficulties, make the most determined, cut out the hesitation and they live their specific vocation with due radicalism. We have seen in a young seminary in Beit Jala, our host four years ago, we were found last month in a young married couple on honeymoon, also hosted in Varazze four years ago. Their testimonies are important for our young people who, though not "big babies", are certainly hard to choose, distracted by unnecessary convenience that our society and pro-im-poses.
difficult and perhaps pointless to make comparisons between them and "us": the numerical difference with the members of the diocesan seminary is clear, the lack of a minor seminary, served for them, disarming the study of the classics such as Thomas Aquinas for them, apart from fashion, of course. A metaphor may be helpful. If a tree representing their roots (their land is the one chosen by the Son of God incarnate), and if we are the fruit of that tree (the Christian culture in Europe), perhaps we should humbly admit that in recent decades fruits have matured a lot, up to rot. But the tree is firm and strong roots are hoping for new results.
short, it was possible to meet young vibrant, full of joie de vivre, seminarians motivated and aware of ... .. And then: Jalla! ie, GO! Those who have made repeated often accompanied him as an exhortation to continue visit, to explore an area ... to become a motto and a wish. Let's go together to a better future meeting, to be built with sacrifice.
Marco Damonte
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