This is the VOICA Programme, a Canossian volunteer initiative rooted in practical care for people, a spirit of service, and a willingness to encounter others with simplicity, openness and dedication.
From Motivation to Service
Equipped with sleeping bags and great enthusiasm, the future volunteers gathered at the community of the Canossian Sisters in Pavia to begin their formation journey together.
The meeting opened with a moment of prayer, followed by personal reflection on the deeper motivations that inspire each volunteer to set out and to devote their time and energy to serving others.
Guided by the theme “From Tourist to Protagonist”, the young participants shared reflections and experiences. From these exchanges, a number of key words emerged—expressing the harmony and unity of the group: knowledge, learning, service, shared journey, and the joy of giving.
The Canossian Style: The Culture of “Going the Extra Mile”
The programme then continued with a deeper exploration of the distinctive spirit of Canossian volunteering, often summarised in the expression “the culture of going the extra mile.”
This vision encourages volunteers to move beyond what is ordinary, placing love, care and dedication into every small gesture. It is precisely this attention to “something more” that characterises service lived in the spirit of St. Magdalene of Canossa, a gift understood in the light of the greater Love revealed by Jesus Crucified.
The Art of Greeting and Encounter
One of the most dynamic and engaging moments of the meeting was discovering the value of greeting as a first gesture of welcome and respect between different cultures.Through several practical activities, participants were able to experience directly the difference between two possible attitudes:
- openness towards others, which shortens distances and fosters closeness;
- remaining within one’s comfort zone, which can instead hinder genuine encounter.
A Shared Journey
This first meeting confirmed how precious it is to share the journey and to continue getting to know one another more deeply, in order to grow both as individuals and as a group.
From these first steps emerges the possibility of preparing for a service experience capable of leaving a lasting mark—not only in the places and among the people the volunteers will encounter, but also in the hearts of those who set out on this journey.
