杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

杏MAP导航 Francis has penned a letter to show his closeness to the Piccola Casa della Misericordia (鈥淟ittle House of Mercy鈥�) in Gela, Sicily, and to encourage those who spend themselves there every day without reserve.

Noting that the House was built to assist 鈥渢hose suffering from hardship and precariousness,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said:

The work of being close to loved ones who are in difficult conditions is a beacon of light and of hope in the darkness of suffering and resignation. It is an appreciated sign of the Church鈥檚 sharing in the hardships and burdens of its own people; it is an admirable example of evangelical charity, and of the Church 鈥済oing forth鈥� [鈥淐hiesa in uscita鈥漖, which is so good for both the ecclesial and the civil community.

杏MAP导航 Francis with Fr Pasqualino Di Dio, founder of the Little House of Mercy

Inspired by 杏MAP导航 Francis

The impetus for the 鈥淟ittle House of Mercy鈥� came from 杏MAP导航 Francis himself. In 2013, at the beginning of the papacy, a young priest from Piazza Amerina, Fr Pasqualino Di Dio, was granted an audience with the new 杏MAP导航. Father Di Dio spoke with the Holy Father about the social realities in his diocese, and especially the difficulties faced by many families in his own city of Gela.

杏MAP导航 Francis suggested the foundation of a House that would be a sign of God鈥檚 mercy. Now, seven years later, the Little House of Mercy includes a canteen, a centre for listening and accompaniment, and a food bank. Volunteers provide counselling, family mediation services and school assistance to children, working in partnership the Caritas aid organisation, and with local parishes, institutions, and associations. With the collaboration of the 鈥淩aphael鈥� Social Cooperative, the Little House of Mercy also operates a medical clinic, a dormitory, a store, and workshops for sewing, carpentry and ceramics.

At work in the Little House of Mercy

Bearing witness to the tenderness and mercy of the Father

In his letter, addressed to Fr Di Dio, 杏MAP导航 Francis writes, 鈥淚 encourage you, and all those who collaborate in your projects for good, to persevere in your praiseworthy mission of bearing witness to the tenderness and mercy of the Father, offering sharing and solidarity to the weakest most discouraged.鈥�

Father Di Dio, for his part, sees 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� words as 鈥渁 sign of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 affection, and also a confirmation for the work that so many men and women of good will are doing in silence in the service of the little ones of the Gospel.鈥� He describes the work of volunteers and benefactors of the Little House as 鈥渁 dream of love, especially during this time of confusion and suffering largely caused by the pandemic.鈥�

At the Little House of Mercy in Gela

The Eucharist at the heart of the work

鈥淎ll the services undertaken in our Centre have their fulcrum in Eucharistic adoration,鈥� explains Fr Di Dio. 鈥淭his is where strength and Providence come from.鈥� He adds:

We are called in this difficult time to turn our attention to the weakest and most vulnerable, without being dominated by the culture of waste [鈥渃ultura dello scarto鈥漖 and suspicion, which must be replaced by the promotion and safeguarding of the other, certain that life is possessed only when it is given away, and that the Lord does not abandon us.