From Spain to Romania, the Guanellians live out their Founder's charisma in various European countries. Memories and impressions of the European Delegation's annual assembly.
in Barza d'Ispra (Varese)
by Father Gustavo De Bonis
The
The article reproduces in its title the opening sentence of the letter of convocation from the superior delegate of the San Luigi Guanella Delegation, Don Fabio Pallotta, with which he invited the confreres to the assembly, held at the Casa Don Guanella in Barza d'Ispra from 9 to 13 March 2026. According to the regulations that guide Guanellian life, the assembly meeting
It fosters communion, participation, and shared responsibility among the brothers; furthermore, it submits issues concerning the life and development of each circumscription to common discernment, and serves to develop annual or triennial planning.
In his letter, Don Fabio added that the assembly is also a time for relaxation: by distancing ourselves from the places and pressures of everyday life, we have the opportunity to share our stories, pray together, listen, learn from everyone, and develop feelings and impulses in harmony with the entire Congregation, our true mother.
But gathering in Barza d'Ispra was deeply meaningful for two reasons: first, because in this small town on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Varese, many of the confreres present had completed part of their formation program, and it was the site of numerous General Chapters; the second reason the Guanellians are drawn there is that the Church of the Sacred Heart contains the remains of the Servant of God Brother Giovanni Vaccari, an exemplary religious who died in Spain in 1971.
The assembly opened on March 9th with the recitation of Vespers at Brother Giovanni's tomb. Father Andrés García Velasco, who personally knew Brother Giovanni and was welcomed into the seminary by him, recalled some aspects of the Servant of God's spiritual life.
Tuesday, March 10, was dedicated to reflecting on the journey of the Congregation and the Delegation. The author was invited to present the journey of the Guanellians, initiated by the XXI General Chapter, starting with the Final Document and the implementation of a program developed, using a "synodal" method, in September 2025 by the superiors of the various circumscriptions into which the Servants of Charity are divided worldwide. There was also ample time for clarifications, explanations, and questions.
In the afternoon of that Tuesday, the interventions of the brothers from the different nations followed one another, presenting the composition of the communities and the path taken during the year, as in a SWOT analysis (acronym of Strengths/strengths, weaknesses/weaknesses,
Opportunities/opportunity and Threats/threats), together with the prospects and hopes that support individual communities.
Wednesday, March 11th, was a day of true spiritual joy. We moved from Barza to Turin, the city of masters by Don Guanella. The visit began at the Cottolengo, where we were warmly welcomed by a nun from the Little House, who showed us a film on the life of Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo and some testimonies of the activities carried out there. Immediately afterward, we went to the main church to venerate the body of the great Saint of Charity, reciting the Chaplet of Divine Providence. It was striking that the nun, in guiding us, often recalled the places where our Saint Luigi Guanella had passed.
Our second stop in Turin was at Valdocco; we celebrated Mass in the magnificent Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, then had a free visit to Don Bosco's rooms.
We spent a third time at the Arsenale della Pace – SERMIG (Youth Missionary Service), founded by the layman Ernesto Olivero to fight world hunger through works of justice and solidarity towards the poorest and the promotion of authentic development.
All three visits deeply nourished our Guanellian roots: on the one hand, by stopping in the places where Don Guanella received so much from two saints, Saint John Bosco and Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo; on the other, by encountering a contemporary form of charity expressed in the Arsenal of Peace, with the many activities carried out there.
Back in Barza d'Ispra, we spent the following day, March 12, listening to the testimonies of several of our brothers. First, Father Marco Grega helped us reflect on various aspects of religious life today: our charism, young people and the vocational journey, Guanellian sites, and the General Chapters. In the afternoon, we listened to the testimonies of Father Domenico Scibetta, Father Leonello Bigelli, and Father Agostino Frasson, who shared with us their experiences in the apostolate of charity in situations of particular need. They explained how the initiatives they are involved in began, how they continue, and what prospects they have for the future.
After dinner on this last day, we spent an evening together, joining in the songs and enjoying the "magic tricks" performed by Father Arcangelo Biondo. These "magic words," which I struggled to learn at first, remained etched in my memory: "Bibidì, Bobidì Bu: he who loves more wins." Beyond the "magic," these words seemed appropriate to conclude these days of assembly. This is the final message: he who loves more truly wins, he who knows how to persevere with courageous patience on the path of justice and love, amid tribulations, he who responds to evil with good.
(cf. Rom 12:21). The Guanellians of this European Delegation are victorious, who in their respective nations carry out with sacrifice and dedication the mission that Providence has entrusted to them.