This morning I spent nearly three hours at the parish, and in addition to confessions, spoke to a lot of people of all ages. The more I get to know the people of this neighborhood, the more I realize how isolated everyone feels. Most are working class, and they came to Rome for work. They have their families, but do not really know their neighbors. They live in high rises, in tiny condominiums, surrounded by people and cut off from those they love. The pressure on families is incredible.
Many come to the parish looking for companionship, social interaction, friends with whom to share, but the parish activities are not really adequate for this, in my opinion. There is an oratory and a youth center, but the quarters are tight and few kids participate. Yes there are prayer groups, the Charismatic Movement, and the Padre Pio groups, but these only isolate lonely people the more (again, in my opinion as I listen to folks). The parish needs a greater outreach, on the human level, into the neighborhood, to state it simply.
But then, the priests are overworked and tired. The young pastoral vicar walks stooped over from a virus that he contracted as a young missionary in Madagascar; the older curate can only take an hour or two in ministry, and then must withdraw because he is exhausted (old age and bad health). The parish priest is taken with administration (there's a lot of it) and fears that he is losing his pastoral touch. It all sounds so familiar, like many parishes back home.
More priests from the University could become involved, both the student priests and the professors, but the parish priest will have to make up his mind in this area. Will he do so? I wonder if he recognizes the problems of the people or sees the needs…
In any case, this too is an area that makes me think that all the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). The solution comes if we let the verse continue.
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