{"id":33934,"date":"2024-11-07T09:59:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T08:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.genverde.it\/?p=33934"},"modified":"2026-03-09T11:11:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T10:11:05","slug":"i-ritiri-per-cori-con-il-gen-verde-a-loppiano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genverde.it\/en\/i-ritiri-per-cori-con-il-gen-verde-a-loppiano\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cChoir retreats\u201d with Gen Verde in Loppiano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“Choir Retreat\u2019 ” with Gen Verde in Loppiano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

This autumn season, two retreats for choir members in Loppiano, along with many other events and concerts all over Italy.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n

The year 2024-2025 started off great, with numerous concerts, meetings, workshops and also, as we told you in the last news, many new features.<\/a><\/strong> In September we were in Barletta (BT), Castel Gandolfo (RM), Arcole (VR), Molteno (LC), Lucera (FG), in October in Gravina in Puglia, (BA), Vallo Torinese (TO) and, finally, in Comacchio (FE) where we held a Choral Workshop for 130 choristers and musicians from 15 choirs of the Archdiocese. But it doesn’t end here…<\/p>\n\n

A new event: our \u2018Choir Retreat\u2019 in Loppiano<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

On the weekends of 4-6 and 25-27 October, we held the first two editions of the new \u2018Retreat for choirs\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n

\u2018We love to sing, but do we stop to reflect on what we are singing and<\/strong> to how to make it<\/strong> come to life?\u2019<\/strong>: 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 \u2018You Call Us By Name<\/a>‘, \u2018Walk On Holy Ground<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018Nelle mani tue<\/a>\u2019. <\/p>\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n

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Maria Theotokos Shrine – Loppiano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

What did the participants of the retreat say?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

\u201cI<\/em>will 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\u2019 <\/em>, said one of the participants.<\/p>\n\n

‘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 <\/em>‘, added a chorister.<\/p>\n\n

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“Choir Retreat” in Loppiano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

\u2018We will convey what we have learned here to the others in our choir!<\/em>\u2019, shared several of the participants. \u2018We will certainly come back next year, too!<\/em>\u2019, many expressed. In other words, it\u2019s not the end, but the beginning of a new journey that will definitely have new editions next year… stay tuned! <\/p>\n\n

All the info for our confirmed performances and events can be found here.<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n