The Father was deeply depressed by the empty benches

The rising caseload of the COVID-19 pandemic has generated new and unusual circumstances for the majority of the mankind. An extraordinary situation requires unique solutions. A mere 20 km north of Milano, the Pastor of the Robbiano di Giussano Parish Church, Don Giuseppe Corbari turned to his congregation with the following request:

“Please send me a photo, either a personal or a family one, with a clear view of your face on it. I’m very much in need of seeing your faces when standing at the altar and celebrating the Sunday Holy Mass. I’m going to print the photos, then fix it onto the bench, so that I will not feel myself so lonely. Goes without saying that children will get the first rows, while the adults back behind. I’m going to keep a 1 meter distance between the photos, to avoid the violation of regulations. Should you agree, I’m waiting for the photos. Don Giuseppe.”

So the photos have been printed, and the Father let the worshippers sit on the benches of the church. Don Giuseppe had to face a real challenge to have the photos placed in accordance with the regulation to keep the 1 meter distance in between.

The following Sunday the church was crowded. The Holy Mass had been live broadcast. The Father’s call has really meant a lot to the worshippers living in the red zone, in home quarantines in the region of Milan, Monza and Bergamo. Inventiveness and love, that is what can surmount any obstacles!

Source: Magyar Kurir

Photo: Radio Vaticana