(Verona) – During the weekend of 18–19 April 2026, the Assembly for the renewal of the Provincial Coordination of the Canossian Lay Association was held at the Diocesan Centre of Spirituality in San Fidenzio, Verona. Taking place in the Easter season, the event offered an important opportunity to reflect on the theme of lay co-responsibility in the synodal Church.
“Synodality must become a mindset, in the heart, in decision-making processes and in the ways we act” (Pope Leo XIV). The speaker, Pierpaolo Triani, professor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, stressed the importance of moving forward together at every level, while also highlighting the need for renewed commitment to co-responsibility. All the baptised, in fact, are by their very nature missionaries too. Hence the reference to the foundations of the Second Vatican Council and to the promptings of Evangelii Gaudium, with a particular emphasis on the desire to share the gift of the Gospel in our own time.
The summary document, Yeast of Peace and Hope, the fruit of many years of work, represents a kind of “user’s guide” from which to begin again with renewed hope. This is an important challenge, a process that calls into question the certainties of the past in order to open up to something new that gives rise to new paths to follow. It is no coincidence that the Gospel proclaimed that Sunday was that of the disciples of Emmaus. It is a Gospel of the journey, initially marked by discouragement, which is transformed into missionary energy and strength through the encounter with Jesus, recognised in the Word and in the breaking of bread.
“Stay with us, Lord, for evening draws near” is the heartfelt prayer of the Church on the way. On Saturday afternoon, after the report on the previous three years, the vote was taken and the new Coordination was appointed. Sr Elena Pilastro and Fr Carlo Bittante shared these moments with all of us, trusting in the Holy Spirit to discern fully the direction to which we are called to walk. They listened carefully, reflected, and engaged in dialogue, opening our eyes to new perspectives for the future.
This was deeply reassuring and made us reflect on how precious it is to receive such care. The charism of Magdalene continues to prove a strength not only because of its vitality, relevance and rich abundance of vocations, but also because it offers lay people a form of support and formation that is not always easy to find elsewhere.
The Provincial Coordination of Italy for the 2026–2029 term will therefore be made up as follows:
Maria Pia Raja – Coordinator
Paola Leiter – Secretary
Francesco Curri – Treasurer
Mariagrazia Nicastro – Councillor
Fr. Francesco Vercellone – Animator
Sr Daniela D’Alessandro – Animator
It is wonderful to think that the times and ways of the Spirit are different from our own, and that even when everything seems to depend only on us, the Lord continues to walk beside us. During Saturday evening prayer, we were given a sign to take home: a small vial of yeast, symbolically expressing the desire that in the coming years we may be, within society, a little yeast of unity, communion and fraternity.
The message from the International Coordinator, Rosanna Imamura, reached us with heartfelt thanks for all the work involved in organising the July Conference, and with good wishes for the new journey that is beginning. Gratitude was also expressed by all the lay groups present in Verona for the elections, coming from all over Italy for these years of formation and fraternity.
Maria Pia Raja
