From 10 to 17 July, “Cesar-stock 24.”1 took place at Cascina Archi in Murisengo (AL). One of the participants, G.L, talks about the experience.
In Murisengo (AL), at Cascina Archi, “Cesar-stock 24.1” took place in July: for the third time, boys and girls from Vittoria, Salerno, Rome, Vigevano and Turin met to live an experience in the footsteps of San Cesare.
The days began with songs and prayer, then we had breakfast together, changing places at the table to get to know all the participants better. After breakfast it was time for work: cleaning the farmhouse, cooking, washing dishes and animating the liturgy and the evening community animation moment; during lunch the group that was in charge of the kitchen that day served the others at the table.
In the afternoon, work in groups and then individually, with a short moment of desert, then reflection and prayer on the day and the theme of the day. This was followed by sharing, organized in small groups more or less by age group; an excellent way to participate, express your opinion, open up to other people and obtain important food for thought in listening to others.
The themes of the days were varied: more “static” and reflective activities alternated with role-playing games – through play it is easier to identify with specific situations and become aware of oneself –, without omitting time for reflection or for welcoming testimonies.
We listened to several, the most impactful was that of Don Luigi Ciotti, founder of Gruppo Abele and Libera. The testimonies focused on the theme of choice: those who spoke tried to tell how they had come to take their own paths, how they had understood that this was their vocation.
Testimonies that left a mark on each one of us, as was especially evident in our free time, where we continued to discuss in a constructive manner.
After seven days, the feeling that has remained most impressed is the importance of “us”, of being together. This was confirmed in the final tests, where it was repeated several times how the Cesar-stock experience is fundamental to being able to face important issues with the right spirit compared to what we read and see on social media; a group like that brings a smile to the face.
The importance of not being alone was also at the center of all the testimonies; in addition to underlining that you don’t go far alone, our guests told us about the importance of sharing, the strength that you can give to your partner when he needs it, sure that if you needed it, he would do the same.
It’s as if they had taken up the lyrics of the song … “it’s more beautiful together, other people are a great gift, it’s more beautiful together.”
There was great sharing not only in reflection, but sharing of the person, giving a little of yourself to others and rejoicing with them. This meant that at the end of the week tears of happiness abounded, but also of melancholy; not everyone is a neighbor, you would like to prolong the experience, because it is a happy bubble where you feel good and can be better.
The commitment is to bring everything that is inside this “bubble” into daily life, to live that goodness and that daily service that we must witness in the “real” world.
