This autumn season, two retreats for choir members in Loppiano, along with many other events and concerts all over Italy.
The year 2024-2025 is off to a great start, with numerous concerts, meetings, workshops and also, as we told you in our last article, lots of news. In September, we went to Barletta (BT), Castel Gandolfo (RM), Arcole (VR), Molteno (LC), Lucera (FG). In October, we visited Gravina in Puglia, (BA), Vallo Torinese (TO) and, finally, Comacchio (FE) where we held a Choral Workshop for 130 choristers and musicians from 15 choirs of the Archdiocese. But it doesn’t end there…
A new event: our ‘Choir Retreat’ in Loppiano
On the weekends of 4-6 and 25-27 October, we held the first two editions of the new ‘Retreat for choirs’ in Loppiano, international town of the Focolare Movement. Together with about 300 members of various choirs from all over Italy, we experienced very intense days of a true spiritual journey through Gen Verde’s liturgical songs.
‘We love to sing, but do we stop to reflect on what we are singing and to how to make it come to life?’: this was the question that kicked off the retreat. During the two-day programme, participants were able to go into depth on the Gospel passages and life experiences that inspired songs such as ‘You Call Us By Name‘, ‘Walk On Holy Ground’ and ‘Nelle mani tue’.
The programme included sessions for singers and a special group for guitarists, and time for reflecting and sharing, in a joyful spirit of true fraternity. During both weekends we also provided music ministry for a moment of Eucharistic adoration in Loppiano’s Shrine dedicated to Mary Theotokos. It was an opportunity to give space to prayer, in an atmosphere of great sacredness.
To conclude the retreat, on Sunday 6 October at 12 noon, in the Shrine, together with the 120 participants from the first edition, we sang during the Mass commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of Loppiano (4 October, 1964). On Sunday the 27th at 12 noon, together with about 180 participants, we sang to celebrate the 20 years of the Theotokos Shrine.
What did the participants of the retreat say?
“Iwill take home one very important thing: we cannot be content with merely singing and playing. We must have the courage to do what we have done these two days, which is to dig deeper, to go and look for the Gospel passages that inspire the songs. Because singing is a layer, it is like the tip of an iceberg. Then there is a whole submerged world that, sometimes, in the beauty of being together and singing we do not take the time to discover. Instead, every now and then we have to stop and go discover what’s underneath’ , said one of the participants.
‘I wanted to thank Gen Verde in particular, because this experience really confirmed something for us… we are on a path in which, regardless of skills, regardless of having studied, the most important thing is really living, living prayer, putting into practice what we are saying. And to see and hear this from you, for us it was really important. It was a milestone to confirm that we are on the right road ‘, added a chorister.
‘We will convey what we have learned here to the others in our choir!’, shared several of the participants. ‘We will certainly come back next year, too!’, many expressed. In other words, it’s not the end, but the beginning of a new journey that will definitely have new editions next year… stay tuned!
