1

I decided to write a second book cuz I had other things to

say.
I wanted to tell what I lived while I was in Catania and
share some teachings to the young people.
I hope to transmit some values to the youth.

That's the reason why I wrote the book. I wanted to say

about this trial that I had. I wanted to tell something more
about it.

1 At home in Catania
I was not alone

.........................................
Little break in Comiso
............................
Again in Catania
.......................................
Why?
.....................................................

8
9
9
10

2 Practising justice
Again in Catania
(Always in Catania??? :) )
..........................
Still
.........................................................
In Gagliano too
.......................................

11
12
12

3 A challenge
.........................................

13

...........................................

16

........................................
.............................................
.........................................

17
18
19

..................................................
................................................
.......................................................

20
21
21

Unseen forces

4 Killing for justice

Killed for life

5 I was
I was an abort
I was alone
I was not alone

6 My guitar
In Catania
In Albania
Songs

7 Out of the crystal ball

In Albania

................................................

22

.................................................

23

...........................................

24

.............................

26

.........................................

27

................................

28

.................................................

29

In Catania

8 Abandoned
9 Defending the poor
Jesus teaching

10 Hated for justice

Strength

..........................

30

............

30

.......................

32

..........................................

33

11 Talking about justice

Some people will never hear you

12 Don't forget the poor

Thanks Jesus

...........

33

........................................

33

.....................................................

35

13 Coming back to the everyday life

Boring places

A guy

Providence

.....................................

38

Without money?
Christ
Mom

...........................

38

.................................................

40

......................................................

41

Coming back home

...................

41

..................................................

42

14 Conclusion
For faith

Don't despise the poor

..........................

Some stories of people

............

Nuccia
.................................................
Enzo, Nuccia, Federica, Michael
.....
Mario 46
...........................................
Munr
...................................................
Munr, Omr e Lotfi
........................
Mario 46
............................................
Franco
.................................................
Florian e Tina
..................................
5

42

45
46
47
49
50
52
53
54
55

Miguel

.................................................

Alcune storie di persone

..........

57

59

Al

...................................................

59

Camel e Grazia

...................................................

60

Sofia

...................................................

62

Mario

...................................................

64

Calogero

....................................................

65

A little story about five little

princesses
........................................

68

Calogero

...........................................

72

Psalm 34 - The Happiness of

Those Who Trust in God .......

75

Live like you are loved

Thanks

........................

78

...........................................................

79

1 At home in Catania
I was not alone
I never thought to find myself for about one month with
neither a cent. That is I opened up the wallet and I have
just nothing, neither a cent, neither a little coin. And this
for a month. In Catania, without a family behind my
shoulders, having problems with who would have been
able to help me. And I was alone at home, in that house in
Catania where some years ago I had studied.
But I was not alone. God was with me. In those moments
so difficult, you feel the real presence of God. There was

nobody at home, cuz usually the guys went away in the

weekend. I found myself in a room, all alone, to pray
hard, that is intensely. I was very worried. I was just
abandoned by a friend. Beans were almost finished (I ate
beans for about a week, at midday and evening, with
some rice till it finished) and situation went on for a long
time.

Little break in Comiso

Well, at least I was invited to spend Easter in Comiso by a
my friend. Obviously this made me very happy. I spent
unforgettable times. I was hosted by his family and this
was for me an honour. Even because, for who doesn't
know it, in Comiso Easter is even the feast of the town
and, in Sicily, it is used to spend it only with relatives. This
is only one of the things I never lived before becoming a
believer. And following God's way, the way of justice, gave
me the life in abundance.

Again in Catania
Then I came back to Catania again, returning from
England and from Tuscany. I tried to work there. I walked
all the Playa by foot (it's the long beach of Catania), under
the sun, with the curriculums in my hand, asking at the
lidos. It was August if I'm not wrong. And also the zone of

Acitrezza, Acicastello, .. At the end I got job in the

center of Catania. But too little, 2 times in a month. As
waiter. In all of this it didn't miss the chance to remain
faithful to that teaching, to practice justice. If you want or
not, it was making me man. And when your handouts and
your secret prayers go up to God, you will receive your
reward. You can taste it soon, on the instant, receiving
joy, humanity, friendship, benedictions (this was a new
thing for me) by the poor.
Even today, in a solitude so prolonged 7, 8 I don't
know 12-14 hours completely alone, in which society
often can leave you, to give something to an elder woman
begging, it gave me such a blue full of humility eyes and a
face to keep in my day.

Why?
This things happened to me because of the bad thoughts
passed in the mind of people that should be close to me.
Bad tongues, lies and every kind of evil can make your
ruin happen. But I did mistakes too. Anyway it was
because of the justice, because of defending the poor
people with my tongue, that this happened. It happened
to have all against me in that place, an isolated place, so
it was very difficult. But it's just an episode. The drop that
made the jar overflow was when I gave something to the

10

others. So it's not just because of defending the poor with

my tongue, but because of practising justice.

2 Practising justice
Again in Catania
(Always in Catania??? :) )
Practising justice gave me the life. It's not an isolated
event. In Catania I gave something to the homeless, to
the beggars, to the kids. Once I worked entirely to give all
the money to the poor. And I did it! As I said in another
book, it's difficult to practice justice. It's like you don't
know it exists. And you forget it. Such as in my little town,
where it seems like you are under a crystal ball. So it's for
distance, because you forget it, for the cold hearts that
maybe this happens. That is, you don't practise justice, so
you don't have life. I mean when it becomes a system,
when this happens in the everyday life. So people can
become ugly, and violence can overwhelm them. They
can become rude, and violence can ruin them. While
justice set you free from death, from the laze of death.

11

Still
Just today happened again to me to having found a face
full of humanity after having given something to a man.
And it hasn't been easy to me, but in that moment I
remembered the word of God Give to whosoever ask
you, Jesus says, and practised that. And I found a face
full of humanity. How many times you enter a bar, take a
coffee, maybe for 80 cent, just to meet the eyes of a
person even for some second and it doesn't happen! But
God is faithful and always wants our well.

In Gagliano too
Even in Gagliano I could practise justice. It was taught to
me to find a my own way to help the poor. That everyone
have to find its own way to do that. And I did it. Even with
all my mistakes, that everyone does, I tried to do that. And
I found life. But it was difficult for many reasons. First of
all, I think, cuz not everyone thinks like you. So you can
fear to suffer violence or menaces as happened to me. As
Jesus said Glad who is persecuted for justice, for these
posses the Reign of God. Or even just to fear that people
could take the p*** out of you. Yeah, the world hates you
just because he doesn't think like you. Even with my own
money. At least that's what happened to me. He, the evil,
will find every way, every lie to not let you help the others.

12

Wicked people don't understand justice. I am not

condemning anyone, everyone does mistakes, everyone
has pity, I was wicked. But Jesus came to destroy the
works of the devil, Satan's things. Satan wants to divide
people. Even riches and poor. And I ask forgiveness to
God for every time I made evil to the poor.
Justice is so deep. I think most people do evil without
realise it. They don't know what they do.
Despite all this I could help.

3 A challenge
Unseen forces
As I could know it's always a challenge to not disregard
God's justice. It's really deep! There are unseen forces
that led me to satisfy my flesh desires, cuz it seems SO
good. But then I felt dead inside, or still hopeless as
before, or still with my problems there are social
conditions, problems at home, that can lead you to do
what won't solve your deepest problems in life. And
justice can preserve you from that. The spirit of justice
can keep you. Otherwise you are led to do something
else. And what is not right. For example you can be
without a job and left for hours and hours alone outside.
Outside there only a few people in a bar and, just to see

13

some face or stay for a while with someone, you take a

coffee. But then? At the end you are searching for love.
But you cannot buy love, or friendship. And you are not
loving, you cannot do it, you don't know how to do it. Love
the neighbour, love the world. For God always wants us
full of joy. But the evil exists. Spirits of the evil that don't
want us to do his will. Justice is his will. And it's difficult to
practise cuz something else wants us to practise pity. So,
when I was in Catania and wanted to offer handouts I
learned that it's like a job. At least it's my experience, in
my personal life. It's a commitment and when I was there
many obstacles, instead, led me to go to the university to
see a my friend, I think cuz it was easier (even if it was
really far by foot!). As I wrote in another book, it's difficult
to render justice to the poor, that at the end you don't do
it. For many reasons. And if you don't do it, you do the
opposite. If you don't do well, you do evil. Unseen forces,
worries and thoughts that keep you from giving something
to the poor. For this I wrote it is a challenge to practise
God's justice. Then I turned and came back to search for
someone to give him/her a handout. It has been so, so
difficult to me. But I knew it was the priority. A priority in
my personal life. Cuz I know I can find life in that way.
Another time I was in the city. A person was asking for
something and she was sitting down to the ground. I didn't
have the strength to give her something. So I went away.
In the chaos of the city, I was like the others. For my

14

way... with indifference... a robot... victim of individualism,

you know in a city. But I was not me! Or better I was not
who God wanted, who He showed me concretely I could
be. So I turned back. That person was not there. So I
thought to do the same with another person. He was a
man sitting down and crippled. I stopped some meters in
front of that person and I prayed to do that. Then I went
and gave something to him. His smile... still remember
him. Anyway, after I did that I remember I was very much
stronger than before. Yes... I was what God mean me to
be. And the beautiful thing is that after that, it seemed all
the barriers between me and the others (I mean the
society) went away. Or better, not between them, what
was in their mind, and me. But between me and them. As
Jesus says... it was like we reign, but in love. All those
spirits of division went away. I think all that people went
for their own way without looking no one in the eyes cuz
they rest on their money. I know very well the difference
about your soul when you have even 50 euro or nothing.
They were blind in their thoughts. That man was not so.
Looking to the others, it seemed he had understood
everything about life. Then I had the strength and courage
to see in the eyes of the people, quickly, to look almost
everyone, in and out of the car, while walking towards
home. My footsteps were... 2 meters about, cuz had so
much to walk. I was very strong. And if before I could look
strange to the others, maybe cuz alone, insecure, full of
diffidence, you know... now maybe I seemed strange cuz

15

so strong, and I could meet the same eyes with strength

seeing the others like they were ill. Cuz they remained
insecure, diffident, maybe they give you the hand and
after that stay far from you maybe cuz you have a long
beard.... or because you seemed dirty... even if I was not
dirty (but with the beard, yes!).

4 Killing for justice

Killed for life
I don't have enough words to give thanks to the Lord, to
say how much He did for us. For me He is killed for life.
He is my friend. He was killed to give us life. He saved me
from suicide and from the slavery of sin. I didn't know
Him. Our Saviour kindled my life. And justice comes from
the faith in Him. He was killed for us to live for justice, not
for sin. It's like nowadays most people still crucifix Jesus.
Cuz despise the Love. They don't have His great love
inside, cuz refused. Loving the world more than loving
people in the world. Not living for justice, but obeying to
injustice. Or they don't know that great Love, that is grace,
forgiveness of all our sins. At the last breath, invoking His
name, we are saved. There is no other way. We are all on
the same ship. If we aren't as children, we don't enter His
Reign. But as man regards to justice, to responsibilities.

16

He will reward everyone for his/her works. God came to

give us life, and give it abundantly. His spirit gives life. His
words are spirit. His grace help us to apply more to His
words and doing His works. He has a plan for everyone of
us. He doesn't want anyone to lose himself/herself. I was
wicked. I was lost. I didn't know Him. Even if I went to the
mass and listen to His word, I didn't meet the power of His
Spirit. God is real :). I didn't know His love. A man that
loved so much till to die for us. Died to pay for our sins.
And even to say something. I know that His teaching is
love too. And for us men the care of the instruction is love.
So it is with justice. I didn't know all that before, living as
most people. But I say this things so maybe someone can
hear about that. And I hope my experiences can
encourage and give comfort to someone too. As it
happened with me with Martin Luther King's book or in
other ways. I hope it will be a good book for you and that
at the basis of it there is Who was killed for life.

5 I was
I was an abort
I lived with no God. I lived as a dead inside. So imagine if
I was taking part with his teachings. At most they could be

17

a great weight for me and a great nuisance with my

lifestyling. I used to eat a lot. I was fatter. I didn't care
about the poor. I lived the last two years before my
conversion as a hole, as I don't remind anything in the
years between 19 and 21 years, as I didn't live. I went to
the university, had my schedules,... and I was like dead
inside. I mean inside. Outside I was normal, I thought to
be a cool guy, and I had a lot of things. Or better I was a
slave of that things. I think I inherited that. But I should
write another book on that :)! I had a friend, mom, yeah....
but I was so lonely inside. Or the truth is I was dead
inside.

I was alone
I was not alone. The truth is I was a great selfish. The
truth is that evil built so great things that by now they were
out of control. Problems at home, I was weak in
relationships and still it is a little a mystery for me now
too. But about one thing I'm sure: It was a problem about
love. It seems predicted to say that. But I didn't knew till
not so much time ago now i'm writing, how concrete and
deep love can be, and concretely joined to what is written
in the Scriptures. Love is bigger than everything. God is
love. It was like living the Hell on the earth. Completely
alone. Even if surrounded by many people, even your
dear. I think it's a problem of relationship, about deep a

18

relationship can be. Relationship with God and

relationship with the others. Now I know better that
without a relationship with Him we can't have a deep
relationship with the others. It was like I didn't have the
weapons to fight in a relationship. I think it was a problem
of strength. I was not alone. Then I started to appreciate
the lives of the others. To think that the others were the
greatest gift God gave in my life.

I was not alone

So, after my life changed, I started looking for someone to
know. Two things were born inside of me after reading the
Gospel: a strong desire to know the others and to help the
others. Cuz I was without close, deep friends and cuz
Jesus healed the others in the Gospel. I was not alone.
So, in this new life, it happened to see a program on TV
talking about poor people in the world. I was in the kitchen
and I remember, after I had my lunch, I was going to
throw away the pasta remained in my dish, as usually.
Since then my habits changed. I learnt to put the quantity
of pasta for me, using the balance, so that to lose nothing.
I think justice started working in my life. I think justice is a
greater love. Cuz you try to love people so far from you.
Every person.

19

6 My guitar
In Catania
My guitar reminds me about my beautiful experience had
together with some children. I remember in Catania, while
there we used to stay together at the School of Peace, I
remember that while sitting a child next to me told me to
give a more brioche to another child, cuz he went and
search for food into the public trash. So that broke my
heart. [] I think there are no words left. I didn't know that
could exist such situations. I remember he was a child of
Catania. Then I played for the children and it was so
beautiful.

20

In Albania
My guitar reminds me about my trip in Albania too. I pick
her up with me and we went there to stay with cool
children of Durazzo and teach them something.
We used the guitar to entertain them, but one of the
beautiful things I remember was when we arrived there
and there was nobody. We were outside, in a beautiful
place, but a poor zone of the city. It was a school, but it
seemed to be in the country. So we started playing in this
open space and, while playing, suddenly, children came
out and reached us. Children never know before. Children
seems magical! They are so strong and full of energy,
hope and joy :). I would have a lot to say about that. It
was my first trip in a foreign country. Then we used my
guitar even to play on the streets of Durazzo!

Songs
I used my guitar even to create melodies and playing
songs. There are also songs about the injustices of this
world. I thought these are delicate issues and music could
be a good way to transmit some values.

21

7 Out of the crystal ball

In Albania
My trip in Albania was the first one in a foreign country for
me. I went there two times, in 2006 and in 2007. When I
said I was going to go there, my mom didn't say neither
hello for two days! When I was there for the first time I
missed Italy as nation, the language, ... you know. But we
were there for the children. We were there to teach them
hygienic stuff. We made theatre. We were together in
the rooms trying to do something good, like painting, and
we distributed toothbrushes, trying to teach them to take
care of themselves too. For me it was like to went out of
the crystal ball. Out of Italy, maybe meeting a greatest
poor reality. Those children were so full of joy! :)
They very cool experience was not to be in Albania, but to
meet them. I remember the first two days were so boring
despite the rest of the days, after we met them. We
started working... after we met them we started meeting
more between us, cuz we have something to do,
preparing... you know... It was like they transmitted an
energy. I think when you live for someone else you live
more. I think it's love.
Then I had another amazing experience there. It was
when we visited some people with mental diseases and
other handicaps. I remember that when we arrived I

22

couldn't see the hour to go away. But then I noticed,

behind the eyes of a child on a bed, as a soul that wanted
to speak to me. [] He was skeletal. I knew his parents
abandoned him and went in Greece for holidays, saying
that it was better for them he would die. I remember about
6 months later he died. []
Another cool thing I remember was when I came back
from that institute. Children saw me, ran towards me and
put me on the ground Lol... cuz I missed them. And I
thought: but who am I?. I meant I'm nothing. They were
a lot. Never happened to me. What a gift!

In Catania
But in Albania was not the only occasion to go out of a
crystal ball. Even in Catania I had the opportunity to go
out form the circuits I used to run on, like the university,
or the richest zones of the city, the central zones. I went to
the School of Peace with a community there and friends
in poorest zone of the city. We played songs with the
children, took a sneak together and taught them
something. I had the opportunity to know the poor zones
of the city.

23

8 Abandoned
I think one cannot know how much the poor suffer. If you
not live that. I don't know the level I reached, but I lived
things never lived before, always with the consciousness
that there were people poorest than me, like in Africa. But
I'm not sure about that. Sometimes you can live so
separated from family (in Sicily seems everything) or from
whatever can help you, that... I think the difference is that
here not lasts so long as in other parts of the world.
Anyway, you can't know how alone you can be left in your
poverty without testing it. Even from friends. It's like you
are in another dimension. Poverty is real. I think is not
bad. I think it's hard, nobody wants her, misery can ruin

24

you. But... it's like in that situations I always found hidden

ways. And it lasts so long. I mean hours and hours,
maybe 8, 14 hours left alone. I think it's so tied to the
place where to live. Maybe in other parts of the world
where there is more poverty, there are many people that
are living that, with almost nothing, but at least they stay
together. Here, instead, it seems at the end, even after
days, you always find something to eat, but you are left
completely alone by people, cuz they hate it. And you too.
They are blind. I noticed that at a semaphore. I was on
the side of the street. People seemed crazy, you know.
But when you are like in the other dimension, that's not
normal. I remember I felt this when helping someone.
But when you lived that first hand personally it's like you
are on fire. Cuz separated by every security. Unhooked
from the others that could help or from your own things. I
mean the long term things. Such as a house, family,
salary...
In those situation, somehow,... someone never left me
alone. I don't have enough words to thank God who gave
me intelligence, courage and somehow let me live in
those situations. I remember, especially, when I found
myself in England alone or when I was in Catania with no
money. I remember that maybe almost like when
someone remembers war times. Cuz tears comes
automatically in my eyes. Ahah I felt myself an elder man!
With all respect for them. Maybe now more.

25

So I knew how a poor can be left alone. Even if I not

consider myself a poor, I think I was even for a while.
Intermittently. Anyway, words from the bible talking about
that gave me courage, encouragement and supported
me, giving me an explanation how a poor is abandoned
even from his friend. I just wrote to a friend how I was
abandoned by almost everyone and how thinking about it
makes me cry. Left for hours, days, weeks alone like a
dog in the streets. It's sad :(. But this cannot stop me from
helping the others.

9 Defending the poor

I found myself in such situations in which I had to defend
the poor and had everyone against me. I believe God
wants us to open our mouth to defend the poor, who is
without a voice and weaker in that moment.
It was about the rom people. I had, even today, a beautiful
meeting with them. Had that different times. So I think it's
always rewarding to not have every kind of prejudice
towards the others. I think a prejudice can separate you
always more from the others, that is what the evil wants.
A girl, rom, entered in a shop. She asked something to
the master of the place. He told her to go away, that there
was nothing for her. But she remained cuz she saw a guy
searching for something in his pockets. So the master

26

screamed at her to go away. She went away. The guy

went out of the shop and cried. Then he go away. But first
he heard the wife of the master, usually she didn't do that,
told him that there was no need to scream in that way.
But before I was talking about another circumstance. The
same guy had to defend the rom people and had all the
family against him. That guy was me.

Jesus teaching
Anyway justice is something you get inside. Just today I
read in the Bible that the virtues of the righteous man will
shine as lights. Just today, a little discouraged cuz
without a job, didn't see poor in this little town, but writing
this book. Cuz the righteous take care about miserable
people cause and if you desire justice you will reach her
and you will dress her as a blanket of glory. Justice is
for all. And it is about all. The deceiving of the richness
brings people to avoid poverty and closing in their
richness as a impregnable wall, avoiding them to live.
While, if you live, you risk, and I said justice is about all
cuz it can happen to you too to become poor and we
should help each other. I think it's this the reason while in
the world seems rich becomes richer and poor becomes
poorest.
Justice regards everyone. Yeah... richness is deceiving
cuz they don't live, while the poor do. Remember the film

27

Titanic. At the end anyone lives as he/she wants. Jesus

came to save everyone.

10 Hated for justice

Justice is something real. And the world hates you. It
seems strange, but it's real, how the world hates you with
no reason. Cuz you don't do what it does. I wrote just
yesterday A place where there is no education can be
dangerous. Or you can become dangerous for it. Who is
not for Jesus is against Jesus. Cuz for me education
comes from God. And I thought how our battle is not
against creatures of blood and flesh, but against spirits
of division and the evil, but that some creatures of blood
and flesh's battle is against us, that evil uses persons to
make evil to you too. We are christians, or better we need
Christ, we are the last. But the first in love. Last here, but
near God. I think it is too important to choose your battle.
And Christ came so we can live for justice. Justice is a
battle. I like to think that it is a greater love. But
sometimes it's really a world unjust that don't want you to
practice it. The poor are forgotten. People that want you
to divide from other people. I was threatened for having
given for the poor. I was abandoned for having exposed
my thought to a my friend. I was hated, excluded, for not
acting like them, even if there was a lot that united us. Evil

28

is stupid. But I have to reach a great love, if they want or

not. I was despised, hated by society. If people don't have
this teaching inside them, they are not able to help you
when you are poor.

Strength
Recently I had received a greater strength. It's like I
thought: they make me evil cuz I did good? Me not for
they do evil. I should make them evil for what they do. It's
difficult to explain. It's like first I received that strength,
than I thought this like to explain to the others and myself.
Anyway it's like the prayer of the righteous suffering to
God, as a child, asking Him. But first I received that
strength. I think practising justice. Really that strength is a
gift. Than I was strong enough to brave who hates you for
that. Then I was more strong to attack them, to be
vigorous in refute their accusations and hate and lies.
Strong like a man that wants to kill. With words and my
body.

29

11 Talking about justice

When I started to talk about justice to someone here, I
began to bother. Three times I talked about that to a
person, 2 times so strong, the third time with so much
love but he/she turned herself/himself to the other side,
didn't want to listen to me. But I had to talk about that for
my situation too, to remember why that person was
helping me. [...]

Some people will never hear you

It seems unbelievable how some people will never hear
you and never get to know the truth. So they will always
be under the influence of Satan, doing his works,
accusing you, hating you for practising justice, till
persecuting you, and it's so sad. For this I think the most
important thing is to fix your eyes on Jesus on the cross,
as Jesus says when I'll be left from the ground I will
attract everyone to me. Indeed some people are really
hypocrites, goin to church too but acting like enemies of
the cross of Jesus. Obviously they are even far from His
justice and don't want to listen to you about that. I think
this is the problem: you talked to them about that and
don't listen to you. You can't impose to love. You have to
be careful cuz it also happened to me many times they
hypocritically search your approval for the evil they do

30

and try to hide the evil they do under God's name. But
they don't know God and His love.

31

12 Don't forget the poor

To not forget the poor led me in this world, such as it gave
me integrity, inner edification. Justice kept me. I think a
direct contact with the poor is fundamental in this. Maybe
it's difficult for me to think that there are people that never
had that, and to think that maybe I was so too.
I think in this world you need to not forget the poor and to
have the strength to help them. It gave me purpose in life.
It made me a man. I think it set us free from a no-sense
life or a less-life. It gave me more energy. I think it's
love. I hope everyone can find that.

32

Thanks Jesus
I wanna thank Jesus for having spread His blood for us
all. So we can live for justice and have life. Thank you
Jesus. He is God and He is man, He is one with us. He
came into the world to give His life and take it again. This
crazy world crucified Him. I was so. Crucified his
Creator. How much I love my Lord... even with all my
mistakes. He saved me from suicide at 21 and from hell.
I think it was a bigger love that came from far, from the
past, to save me, and I wanna say thank you for that.

13 Coming back to the

everyday life
Anyway coming back to the everyday life, justice is as a
compass. Inspires me to have purpose, motivates me to
have strength, and leads me in the chaos of the city life
too.

Boring places
Several times I went to Catania just to give something to
the poor, cuz I know in that way you find life. And after
doing that, returning to my rich life, or in richest place or
conditions, was boring. Cuz you don't practise justice and

33

there is no so much life. God is faithful. It's like that

energy that comes from God misses. So I tried to listen to
Him and having practised His word took me out from that
situations and led me in other conditions and to have
more life.

All I wanted but that this book was boring! So let's change
everything again! :)

34

A guy

35

A guy
I woke up. As all mornings, I am without a job. I lace my
shoes. In this city it's easy to remain isolated. I go out.
Since that day my life changed. I felt a great responsibility
too. There is a reason why I'm here. Everyday I keep
asking to myself if I should come back to who hated me
for that change.
Beans are almost finished. And it remains a little time
before I have to leave the house, cuz my friend told me
that. So I don't know where to go. I am very worried...

36

In the meantime I am very hungry. Outside, I never had

the temptation to steal before. Maybe for our education or
because we never suffered hunger for so long. Anyway
near home a oranges stand and I am very hungry. Again
God's words in my mind. Not only to not steal, but even
did you ever maybe miss something?. So, as a child
when he has beaten with a cane, I go home directly not
stealing nothing. I enter. In the fridge there is only one
mozzarella, the only thing in the fridge! I don't take it cuz
it's not mine. Tonino says me hello before to leave, adding
that I can take the mozzarella if I want. He closed the
door. Obviously I devour soon the mozzarella. It's about 6
pm, not time for dinner yet, but too much hungry!
While I was there more than a friend helped me. First I
was helped by the friend in common with the friend who
took me from home. I remained in his house for about 2
months. I'm so thankful for that... so let's talk a little bit
more about those months in Catania!!!
I'm in my friend's house. Don't know what to do. He says
me to look for a job. I think it is right. So I start. But it's
very difficult. And my mind keeps returning to the
problems that brought me there. Anywhere I'm here. Even
I met some girls from Belgium that are guests for about a
week in my friend's house. I spent 2 months in that house.
Now another friend is helping me cuz I feel to not come
back home. While in the first house I could use some
money from my graduation. But they were already

37

finishing and everyday is worst. Here I am even more

alone. I know all that is for God and for a right cause so I
keep trying to stay close to Him, as I did since the
beginning. God didn't leave me and I could feel His
presence several times.

Providence
I'm laying down on bed. It's about 1 year ago. But same
house. I'm reading the Gospel, when Jesus says to be
like the birds that don't sow, don't harvest, to not worry
about what we will eat, cuz as God does with them, He
will give food to us too. That sounds completely crazy!
Completely crazy in the world today! Personally it seems
to me so revolutionary!!!

Without money?
Coming back to our story. Same house. As I was saying I
am trying to stay close to God. I read the Bible. I feel
God's love for men. But beans are almost finished.
Always that beans. This time really. In my wallet neither a
cent. After 3 months money finished. Alone at home.

38

So I start praying hard to God and I feel His presence.

God is near to the poor. Many claim to be near to God,
but are they really near to Him? Many are just fakes.
I'm in God's providence hands. Don't know what to do. I
enter another room. There is an electric piano here and
music is my passion. Found a coin on the ground. Then
another one... so I keep searching and... another one!!! I
can quit and buy the bread!!!
I take the opportunity to tell something about this issue
that I'm living even now that I'm writing. Without money I
rely to God and, to be sincere, in reading the Bible. I don't
know how, but with His word God can set you free from
your dependence from money. It seems unbelievable. He
teaches you other ways to live and loves you. And
everything that is in the earth is his own. And you find out
how before you couldn't live without money or doing
nothing. Then you will see His providence. If really you
search His justice and His Reign.
Where I live this seems not only... fake, but completely
crazy. I noticed also people hates you if you believe that
inside of you. In that period my friends were poor people.
They didn't hate me for that, they talked about God, they
had interest in me, they had a heart.
Done. And now what should I do? My friends came back
from time to time and we had meal together. I found the

39

coins on the ground. Etc. I could go on for about a month.

And now? I'm in God's hands.

Christ
What to say... I hated church. God forgave me and I
converted from my wicked ways and my sins.
I didn't know Christ. And He says eternal life is to know
God and Christ Jesus. So I'm still knowing.
Before to leave home I was reading the Gospel.
One year later I will know Him as never before, 8 years
after my conversion. Not to mention how I grew up in the
catholic traditions! But the truth is God is real and He
choose who he wants and I didn't chose Him.
I know all this is happening for Him. He changed me and
for this I'm hated. One thing I know for sure: God saved
me from suicide. He acts in real ways. And I was hated for
having helped the poor. This is another real action. Who
knows God will understand. Who doesn't know God will
keep accusing through lie.
As I said to people accusing me for my change, without
Him I cannot love them too.

40

Mom
Through an sms I know my mom is coming to the city.
Again God's word comes in my mind and lead me
remembering to honour my mom and, so, to meet her.
Always honour your mom. At least try to do that. []

Coming back home

Mom arrived with my sister :). I'm coming back home. I
realized a lot of things and what the problems were. I
realized my mistakes but even better my battle against an
unjust system. And people in your life can be part of that.
And you too. I was so! Then the battle became harder. I
know there is a system that oppresses the poor. I came
back home but I realized better God's justice, I became
stronger, and I realized how difficult can be to practise
God's word and His justice in an hating world.

41

14 Conclusion
For faith
I knew it... did something again for faith and just
happened to me something never happened to me
before. A poor refusing money and crying, telling me to
buy some milk cuz they don't want to give her it. I could
see poor people's cry. Again did it for faith, today, in
Catania. Obviously I received strength too from it, I
thought it is about integrity, as interiorly renewed. It's
strange how it happen, cuz it's real and God is faithful. He
says you will be protect practising justice, and this
happen. So simple. So simple to receive it, just you have
to do it. The difficult thing is that probably you will never
do it. As happened to me so badly before.

Don't despise the poor

Don't despise the poor. Even just because he is poor. I
don't know why he is poor. If one day he will start working
and will not be poor anymore. Or not. Or he will be poor
all life. I don't know if he likes to be poor, or if he cannot
work. I don't know... I don't know why he is poor. Who is
the poor? I know he is poor and just for that you have to
not despise him.

42

Even because God listens to the prayer of the poor.

And I pray God to protect all the poor, because they are
suffering so much, and are in a worst condition.
I think it's horrible to be left without food and abandoned,
could dying, for a reason or another. I thank God for His
example of life. He went to bring the good new to the
poor. He gave food, healed, spoke words that are life.
He teaches me that to love is a verb. And that the poor
has not to be despised, but has to be loved.

43

44

Some stories of people

I have just found the notebook that I was looking for,
where I wrote the stories about some people met years
ago on the street in Catania. I transcribed it so as it was,
so how I was years ago, despite of my faults. I hope
anyway they can serve to encourage, to stimulate
curiosity, to transmit a little of humanity.

45

Catania, 6th March 2007

This evening, after a good deal of weeks (but not since
the last time I wrote), I came back to do a tour to the
bearded men together with my friends. Well, I have to
say that, personally, it has been very beautiful and, I think,
the best way to close a stupendous day.
This evening we haven't meet many people, or rather
many friends, but whose I encountered, trying to win the
cold-heartedness that is in me, I would like to let you
understand what they have transmitted to me. They have
transmitted to me joy, company, and I'd like to start talking
about Nuccia.

Nuccia
We met Nuccia there where I had left her the last time
that we saw each other, in a AMT bench at the central
station. Nuccia could be so well my grandma, and she
was there like she was waiting for us. When we got close
to her she was very happy to see us and that we were
even more people. With Antonio and the others we
started to search among the clothes to find one suitable
for her. At the end we could give her something. She, as
she had done the other time, started to sing. She sang 2
songs, one I didn't know, the other was Quel mazzolin di

46

fiori. Dang, she knew it all, but I have to say that we

enjoyed so much becoming her choir and accompanying
her beating our hands. The thing the most of all remained
to me about her this evening was her affect of grandma
that she manifested to us with many recommendations
and above all with the sentence: << for me, it's like you
are all my children >>, that she repeated, in many ways,
more times. And, as nephew, I sat beside her on the
same bench, hoping to continue doing that, maybe in a
house worthy of her person.

Enzo, Nuccia, Federica,

Michael
They are the only family that I know living at the station. I
already had met them before and, since the first time I
met them, I felt that even them were my family. Enzo told
me that they don't have a house, but that he wanted to
buy that car because he had the pleasure to do it, seeing
that he works. And then they use the car like their home,
sleeping there. This evening I saw Federica in the car
and, asking about her to Nuccia, she answered to me that
the little one went out from the hospital from little time
after she has been there for about a month, and that
maybe she will have to return there on Monday. She had
a little kidney stone and maybe now she has an infection.

47

While we started going to Emiliano's car, about 100

meters beyond where we were, chatting and joking I was
watching Enzo and, seeing him as he was not resigned, I
thought how hard it would be to be a family man in those
conditions. With two children that are really a love. I have
to say they are just a beautiful family. When then we
arrived to Emiliano's car it was funny to search for some
clothes together with Nuccia. It seemed like we were
finding nothing for her, then we found a brown jersey, and
in the end she asked me if we could find for her a denim
jacket and a pair of jeans. Through Nuccia's behaviour,
moreover always smiling, and through Enzo's eyes I could
draw even more that desire of dignity that every man
needs and has the right to. From Enzo's apparently rude
behaviour, that tells us that take sandwiches and instead
is well and that there is who takes him sandwiches that
are not so good and that he doesn't give to his children,
you can read in reality a sincere research for justice. Enzo
and his family asked us justice and I'm sure that, the more
the Community will be able to be their family, the more
she'll be able to give them justice.

48

Mario 46
Finally I knew him. Our famous friend Mario 46, so
called cuz he lives under the nr. 46 at G. Verga square. I
talked a little with him this evening, and he was very nice.
We talked a little, about women, about the role that they
have today in the world, and about the importance of the
english language. And the smile was always present on
his face. With those two enormous hands, like those ones
of a man who have done the bricklayer for ages, Mario
has the aspect of a person who had a life anything but
calm. But even him has a strength inside, that is God's gift
to the poor people, that shows through his smile and that
makes him go on. And I hope to know him better, and that
he can be able, one day, to sleep in a house.

Catania, 13th March 2007

This evening we were many people in doing the service
for the homeless, or better for our dear friends, and it is
really beautiful to see a more human city!

49

Today, for me it's a day particularly beautiful, I even felt

and again among our dear friends bearded men, that
Spirit that makes us feel to belong all to the same family.
Yes, it was this that I felt when I met that group of young
people that came from Tunisy. And, first of all, I want to
talk to you about Munr.

Munr
While me and the others were talking with the romanian
guys and with the tunisian ones, it was asked me to see if
a guy that was sitting on a bench has received the
sandwich. It was so that, this evening, I have the pleasure
to know Munr. Munr is a 22 years old guy that comes
from Tunisy. He told me that he's in Italy from about 1
year. So, sitting on a bench, I started to know a little better
Munr. When, for example, I asked him if it came to Italy
with the inflatable raft, he told me that he went ashore in
Pantelleria after 5 days of travel in the sea in a plastic
boat about 3-4 meters long. They took so long for the
travel because they had problems with the engine, that
they also substituted. If I have understood well, they
substituted the first and then they had problems with the
second too that they repaired then. Munr doesn't speak
italian so well, but he let himself to be understood. And he
says to me about the fear they felt while the boat was

50

staggering in deep sea right and left. Then he said to me

how Tunisy was beautiful and to go there sometime.
Rather it was one of the first things that he told me. He
told me that there he worked as autobody repairman, that
he has all his family and his girl there, that he hear by
phone sometimes. But he even told me that he went away
from there because there was little money, that it was
barely sufficient to feed his father and his mother and
that, sometimes, there was not food for them.
When I asked him if he works he told me that he doesn't
work and that he begs a little here a little there. Then, at
the end of our conversation, he even began to talk to me
about the Coran, but, having to go with the others, I
couldn't start a conversation that I hope to be able to take
on pleasantly next time. It was beautiful to see Munr to
accept not only our sandwich, but even and above all our
friendship. Except that he looks like a my great friend,
sitting beside Munr I felt myself really his brother and his
friend. It was very beautiful to be able to share with him
some moments of his life, a life very different from mine
and much more poor, only because he is born some
hundreds Kilometers under my land, the other side of a
sea where still today there is an invisible boundary that
can be torn down. And I believe today we torn it down me
and Munr.

51

Munr, Omr e Lotfi

They are the other Munr's tunisian friends. I know them
still a little and, sincerely, I don't remember well what we
have talked about, but I remember very well the family
climate that one could breath. Even them accepted our
sandwiches, but then one of them asks me if there is
meat in the sandwich. Opened it, don't knowing what to
answer, I've never been with the guys to do sandwiches. I
ran to ask the guys some informations and, when Alessia
tell me that it is ham steak, I say that I'm sorry to the
tunisian guys and go to search other sandwiches. Found
them, I go back to give them to the guys but I don't find
them anymore. So, by then moved away from the group, I
cannot forget how by then I felt part of them and the
desire I had to give them those sandwiches. In the end I
met Lotfi with Alessandro and another guy, Ezet, that
comes from Egypt, and that, when I asked him how is
written his name, he wrote it on my hand. Ezet is 20 years
old and tells that he is in Italy from 5 months. He has
been for 4 months in Milan and from about 1 month he is
in Catania, doing always the same job: to wash glasses to
the car drivers at the semaphore.
While we were talking and joking, I hugged him like a
brother, a younger brother who needs our help and our
affect and I'm sure that, every time I will see him again,
he'll never lack it.

52

Mario 46
It's the last person I want to remember because I had the
pleasure to know him better this evening. When we
arrived to Giovanni Verga square, at 21:30 about, Mario
was sleeping under his nr. 46. When then he woke up we
talked a little, and the intelligence of this poor man hit me.
He told me a little bit of everything. From Gaetano's daily
happenings who, after having drunk, asks money to the
near bank with the risk that they make them go away, to
the cover he gave Franco and that it's no more found, to
more personal things about his life. Indeed he said to me
he comes from Mauritius islands, then he said to me he
became christian from hindu mother and father and that,
by now, he is a catanese DOC (it means that he is from
Catania), seen he is here from 1988. He told me that
before he worked in the country, that then he did the
bricklayer, then the washdishes and who knows how
many other jobs. While I was talking to Mario, but even
when I was talking to Franco, this evening, I noticed how
poor people are more open to the neighbour. The
distance from the material things makes them more
similar to the children, teachers about social
relationships, with no pride and more brothers. Truly,
when there was the temptation to distance from him to go

53

and talk with my friends, one more time God's Word took
me to stay beside Mario and to know him better, seen that
whatever we do to Mario and to the other poor, we are
doing it to Jesus.

Catania, 16th March 2007

Franco
After having passed a pleasantly evening with Giorgia at
the theatre, going up to come back home I never would
have expected to meet Franco in via Etnea. But the
strange coincidence is that in the last days I had the
sensation to see him on the street, maybe exchanging for
some second his face with that one of some pedestrian. I
met Franco at 11:10 about, while I was talking to my mom
by phone. So, after having said hello to him, I motioned to
him with a finger to say to him to wait for a minute. So, I
said to my mom that I had met a friend and, after having
said hello to her, I closed the telephone and started
talking to Mario. Sure, my starting was not one of the
best, seen I said the usual: << What's up? Everything
alright? >>. Indeed only then I realized the cold-

54

heartedness of this sentence because it was told with

habit, habit of facing with those ones who have things
always going good. Anyway then we started to talk. And
while Franco started to talk to me I soon felt the smell of
alcohol that came out from his mouth. Then I was fooled
again by distraction and I said to him: << Are you going
home? >> , when Franco has not a home. So he soon
opened to me and confided to me that he has nobody. <<
I have nobody >> he told me.

Tuesday 24th April 2007

It's been a while that I don't write and it's very late, but I
would like to note down something before going to bed.

Florian e Tina
Florian e Tina are two romanian guys, about the same
age as me, that I had the pleasure to meet this evening
when I reached Fabio after having been with Miguel
(another guy I have known this evening). Well, Florian

55

and Tina are a really extraordinary couple, I know them by

so little and so little, but you realize soon some things.
Florian says to me that he is in Italy from about 3 months
and that now he is searching for a house cuz the friend
where they are living since a week about said to them that
they have to go away. Fabio and I got interested about
their story, even because it wasn't difficult to love soon
Florian, given the sincerity that he expressed and the
familiarity that Tina's fallen-in-love and stared-on-him
eyes didn't leave you without it. Yeah, I found so much
familiarity in staying with them, just in the middle of them,
since Tina, listening to me saying an ahi after having
been bent on my knees for a little in front of their bench
(and while I was thinking if to ask or not to give me space
on the bench), she broke my thought inviting me to sit
while she was making space for me among them. It was
so beautiful. Fabio and I listened to them, made them
some questions, and I hope we can find a place for them.
I explained also how it was hard for me to find it seen that
I didn't find it so easily neither for me when I needed it,
and I even said them that, just because I lived it, I
understood them so much. Even Fabio remained so hit by
Florian and Tina, and I hope that he can find soon an
accommodation. A place where to sleep for these my
relatives, for these my brothers.

56

Miguel
Miguel is the moroccan guy that I have known this
evening near to the soup kitchen near to the central
station. Miguel comes from Morocco, he is from little time
in Italy, he has already been in north Italy (in Florence and
in other places) and he do the photographer as
profession. He says that in his country he is a journalist
photographer and, given this technological aspect of his
life, it's not difficult to me to let start a conversation with
our Fabione-tech. From that it comes out a discussion of
380.000.000 megapixel! Then, after Fabio went away and
reached Walter with the romanian people (where after I
will find him with two new friends, Florin and Tina), I sit
next to Miguel and become his friend. Except that in the
lineaments of his face he reminds me so much of my
dearest friend of my childhood and beyond, Luigi. This
makes always easy, always helps in establishing a
familiar relationship. So I listen to Miguel, that speaks an
italian not so good, and that starts to tell me, or better to
complain, how here in Sicily they treat him more as an
animal than as a person. And me, trying to keep the eyes
of Love, listened to him. He told me how they give him the
expired stuff at the soup kitchen that hurted his stomach,
how his employer didn't interest at all, even if he saw him,
when he got injured on the job, hurting himself. Yeah, he
told me about what I saw during this and other days: Love
becoming cold. A cold love, tired, that you already can

57

see just in the traffic of Catania, in the car that, while you
are crossing the street, doesn't stop to let you cross it, but
goes on almost blindly. Yeah, that's the love that doesn't
see, or better an absence of Love. It's the closed Europe.
I, while I was sitting by Miguel that denounced a closed
Europe, with his words and his experiences, I thought that
Miguel and I were Europe and Africa that meet each
other; I thought that we were Eurafrica that was realizing.
I thought it was Africa asking for help to Europe. I thought
that we were both sons of God and that we had so little
differences. I lived him as a brother. Then, after I became
his friend, I got up and I reached Fabio and, in a smile,
me, Miguel and Lotfi broke up, in the Hope to meet each
other again soon and in a more justice.
This evening, even thanks to Andrea Riccardi's words that
I read this afternoon, I understood how important is and I
decided to practice Love's faithfulness towards the poor.
And it was beautiful, then, to tell it to Ivano (a guy
studying at the university and that I've know from little).
Faithfulness and continuity, are the first way to Love.

58

Alcune storie di persone

Ed ecco qualche altra storia di persone che ho incontrato
a Catania. Anche queste, come quelle in inglese, erano in
un quaderno che ho scritto anni fa a Catania. Spero
possano stimolare, incoraggiare, ispirare, trasmettere un
po' di umanit.

Catania, 7 Novembre 2006

Al
Dapprima ho incontrato Al. Al dice di venire dalla
Tunisia, dall'altra sponda, da quella sbagliata dice lui.
E' in Italia da 18 anni e da allora molte cose sono
cambiate. Ci ha raccontato di aver fatto tanti lavori onesti,
di aver lavorato per il Comune, e poi di aver raccolto
frutta,... dal 1990 dice che sale anche al nord Italia e,
quando Fabio gli domanda com' l sopra, lui risponde
che per certe cose meglio, ma per altre no. E noi lo
capiamo. E io penso di averlo capito.

59

Al accetta i nostri panini, anzi ne tiene uno o due in mano

mentre ci sta parlando e, nei suoi occhi caldi e profondi,
lucidi ed espressivi, si legge la vita di una persona che
sembra esser stata sempre l pronta a raccontarsi al
primo disposto ad ascoltarlo, a chiunque ha quel briciolo
d'amore che lo rende propenso all'ascolto.
Briciolo d'amore che forse Al percepisce e sente pi di
ognuno di noi.

Camel e Grazia
Camel e Grazia sono una giovane coppia che io e
Antonio abbiamo trovato seduti su una panchina vicino
alla stazione.
Camel dice che viene dalla Tunisia e ha 30 anni.
Grazie invece viene da Reggio e dice di avere 37 anni.
Ma sia io che Antonio dubitiamo della sua et. Sembra
molto pi giovane e sembra voler nascondere di essere
pi giovane forse per il viso che forse il tempo e le
sofferenze hanno deturpato un po'.
Anche stavolta io ed Antonio ci troviamo di fronte ad un
genio dell'apertura all'altro e del dialogo come sanno ben
fare i poveri. Grazia, infatti, soprannominata da Antonio
regina :), ci sorprende, ci tocca nel profondo mentre ci
parla. E con lei, pi che un racconto, stato un dialogo
tra amici. E' stato molto bello e piacevole e ci che pi mi

60

ha colpito nel nostro dialogo stata, nonostante i veli che

lei metteva nel parlare, la sincerit.
Prima sembrava che giocasse a fare l'indovina sulle
nostre vite ad etichettare me come uno timido, ma con
un buon sorriso (tu hai un bel sorriso, ma sei un po'
timido) e Antonio come uno sfacciato ma buono (tu sei
pi sfacciato, ma dentro sei buono).
Ma in realt ci aveva fatto dei complimenti, E poi, non so
perch, ma ogni tanto ci azzeccava. Come quando disse
qualcosa sulla famiglia e sul fatto che dovevo rimanere
come sono, forte nei mie valori, proprio nella sera in cui
pensavo, durante la Preghiera, a cosa fare a Natale, se
andare o no al pranzo di Natale che facciamo con i
poveri. E proprio nel momento in cui attraverso un
periodo di transizione, sicuramente migliore, con la mia
famiglia.
Camel parlava poco, e mi disse che non gli interessava
degli altri suoi connazionali, degli altri stranieri e degli altri
in generale, e che preferiva pensar per s. Ma, quando gli
dissi che un inganno pensare che pensare solo a se
stessi ci fa stare bene e che bisogna aiutarsi gli uni gli
altri, aiutare l'altro veramente, con cuore, e che Dio
avrebbe aiutato noi, sembrava essere d'accordo.
Sembrava esser d'accordo quando gli dissi che non sarei
stato l da lui a quell'ora se l'avessi pensata come lui.
Per il resto del tempo si limitava a domandare una
sigaretta ad Antonio di tanto in tanto, mentre noi
conversavamo con Grazia. Grazia, dai capelli biondi che

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le cadevano in modo un po' selvaggio ma dolcemente sul

viso, ci chiese dei calzini, ci fece degli scherzi, si divertiva
a parlare con noi con sincerit, e ci chiese di cantarle
qualche canzone. A quel punto ci pens Antonio, che alla
fine tir fuori una canzone di De Gregori dal suo
repertorio.
Ci siamo divertiti tanto a chiacchierare. E la fede di
Grazia, la denuncia che lei ci fa dei preti che danno il
cattivo esempio ai ragazzini, sono sicuro che gli daranno
la forza di continuare a sperare in giorni migliori per loro e
per il mondo intero.

Sofia
Sofia l'ultima delle tre persone di cui ho voluto parlare
questa sera. Ad essere sincero non che abbia capito
molto dal dialogo che abbiamo avuto, perch il suo
italiano, anche se buono, mancava di quel poco che,
unito alla mia grande sbadataggine, non mi ha reso facile
capire bene ci che mi ha voluto raccontare. Comunque
Sofia viene dalla Polonia, e potrebbe essere benissimo
mia madre. Ha un figlio di 28 anni e l'altro non so di quanti
anni. Sono entrambi sposati e, a quanto ho capito, vivono
entrambi, e anche il padre, in Polonia. Lei di Varsavia, e
dice che molto bella. Dice che parla bene quattro
lingue: il polacco, il russo, l'inglese e il francese. Quindi,

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quando le domando se ha viaggiato molto, mi risponde di

si. Mi racconta di essere stata picchiata a sangue l vicino
alla stazione. Il racconto non mi chiaro, lineare, ma so
che le hanno rubato un telefonino, che lei vede spesso
passare di l chi le ha fatto del male, un altro polacco, che
quando l'hanno vista a terra piena di sangue, dopo esser
stata buttata fuori dalla macchina di quell'uomo, nessuno
voleva aiutarla, perch lei polacca, e quindi puttana. Mi
ha raccontato tante cose, tutte in una volta sola. Di come
era tutta nera, per le botte, in ospedale e delle operazioni
alla bocca che ancora deve farsi. Di come abbia avuto
anche per suo figlio dei problemi con la burocrazia della
medicina qua in Italia ma anche in Polonia, e di come
abbia preferito curare suo figlio nella sua patria.
Raccontandosi, mi disse che era sola qui in Italia senza
figli n marito, come se se ne fosse liberata. Ma poi mi
disse che sarebbe ritornata in Polonia, forse, per questo
Natale. Le ho domandato se avesse qualcuno che la
vuole bene qui, ma non ha nessuno. Poi, con il suo amico
che stava seduto l, nella panchina accanto, si lamentava
di quello che, a pensarci ora, credo che fosse l'uomo che
le aveva fatto del male.
Sofia una povera donna, veramente sola, come mi
hanno detto le lacrime che correvano sul suo volto mentre
si raccontava.
E a me, sinceramente, ha dato l'impressione che facesse
la prostituta, visto che quando le domandavo del lavoro
rimaneva sempre sul vago. E visto che potrebbe essere

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mia madre, le devo ancora pi rispetto, quello che non ha

avuto neanche minimamente il mondo per lei. Ma Sofia
anche una donna che ha incontrato la Comunit, e io
spero che possiamo essere per lei quello che il mantello
di Ges fu per la donna che soffriva di emorragia: un
ancora di salvezza.
Di una cosa sono certo: il Signore non la abbandoner,
perch Lui non si dimentica di nessuno.

Catania, 14 Novembre 2006

Mario
Stasera ho conosciuto un po' Mario. Mario viene dalla
Tunisia ed stato per molto tempo in Italia. Mi ha detto di
esser stato qui per 17 anni consecutivi, di esser tornato in
Tunisia dove rimasto per 4 anni, e di esser ritornato in
Italia nel 2002.
E' stato Mario a chiamarmi stasera, mentre io e i miei
amici, appena arrivati, ci stavamo organizzando sul da
farsi. Si ricordato il mio nome. E mi chiese di sedermi
con lui sulla panchina. Quindi rimasi ad ascoltarlo. Mi ha
raccontato di come sia stato licenziato da un lavoro in cui
lo hanno pagato pochissimo e di come avrebbe voluto,

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ormai senza permesso di soggiorno da gennaio, tornare

in Tunisia per aprire un'attivit commerciale con i soldi
che ancora spera di ricevere da un avvocato. Mi ha voluto
raccontare questo chiedendomi aiuto. Ma la prudenza mi
ha spinto a parlarne con Emiliano e Walter subito dopo e,
dopo averne parlato tutti insieme, Mario ha accettato tre
dei nostri panini e un po' di succo di frutta.
Nonostante la prudenza che necessario sempre avere,
Mario una persona che ha tanto bisogno di aiuto e di
amore. Ha bisogno di Amici e credo che la Comunit
sicuramente non gli far mancare l'opportunit di averne
tanti.

Calogero
Calogero una persona anziana che ho avuto il piacere
di conoscere dentro la stazione. Quando con i due
Fabio e Fabrizio, gli abbiamo portato dei panini, c' stato
un istante in cui, dopo un intervallo di tempo, lungo quasi
tutto il tempo che eravamo di fronte a lui, in cui
sembravamo, come ha detto Fabio, un'istituzione, e dopo
aver pregato dentro di me, mi sedetti accanto a lui e
cominciai a parlargli. E da quel momento in poi stato
come dialogare con mio nonno. Mi ha raccontato
parecchie cose e aveva molto di familiare. Mi raccont di
quando lui era stato in Germania, intorno ai primi anni '50,
per tre anni, e di come, da poco arrivato, la polizia,
insieme ad altri suoi compagni, lo aveva portato in

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caserma, perch senza documenti. Mi ha detto che ha

due figli in Australia, dove ha lavorato per 5 anni in una
fabbrica di tappi per bottiglie, e due qui in Italia. La sua
storia la storia di una vita dura, una vita immersa nel
viaggio, nell'essere cittadino di questo mondo
globalizzante. Mi ha ricordato tanti miei parenti che
abitano in Germania e in Francia, persone a me tanto
care. Gli ho chiesto da dove venisse, e mi ha risposto che
viene dalla provincia di Enna. Lo disse borbottando
qualcosa, e io riuscii a captare a stento la parola Enna,
che ormai, dopo gli anni adolescenziali del rifiuto, mi sta
diventando tanto cara. Si, viene proprio dalla provincia di
Enna, da Villarosa per essere precisi. Io gli dissi che
vengo da Gagliano e il clima divenne ancora pi familiare.
Quando gli domandai della famiglia, mi disse che ormai
con la famiglia era finita, che ora sta con una donna con
la quale ora ha anche dei figli e con la quale vive. Mi ha
raccontato un po' dei suoi casini, ecco. Ma mentre me ne
parlava, nonostante fosse sbagliato, scopersi che non era
quello ci a cui dovevo dare importanza. Ma ci che
veramente importante pregare per Calogero e per
tutte quelle persone dimenticate dal mondo, persino dalla
propria famiglia, dai propri figli.
Ma la Comunit arrivata anche per Calogero e io sar
felice di essere suo nipote ogni volta che andr a trovarlo.
Ma anche di essere per lui un fratello e un padre. Di
essere padre per tutti coloro che la societ ha

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dimenticato, che la societ vuole dimenticare, di

prendermi cura di loro insieme ai miei fratelli.
Mi ha fatto davvero piacere trovare qualcosa scritto su
Calogero adesso che sto scrivendo, dopo tanti anni, infatti
portavo ancora nel cuore quell'incontro alla stazione
come uno dei pi cari in assoluto fatti a Catania. Sono
davvero grato per questo :). [14 Agosto 2015]

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A little story about five little

princesses

Mostly we see people are crazy for baby boy in

this world. In Asia parents desire baby boy and
don't like birth of girl. Today i am going to tell
you one of these type of family story. One man
lives in Lahore, Pakistan. He and his wife very
happy for their first baby's birth. They expect
baby boy but God blesses them with a cute little
baby girl. Man gets so upset and shows his anger.
Wife feels that his husband is not happy because of
baby girl birth. She gets scared but members of
family make him relax and try to understand that
Next baby will be a boy. He satisfies but keeps
hope for baby boy . . Time passes' his wife gets
pregnant again he wishes this time she will deliver
baby boy ..
But unfortunately again baby girl comes their

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home . He gets much rude and abuses his wife.

Time goes on he has 5 daughters. His elder
daughter always gets good marks and wins first
prize. Other 2 daughters also good in studies but
suddenly one morning the mother of girl dies by
heart attack . Elder girl comes near her mother
for awaking her but she know her mother has lost
her breath. She cries then all family members
come and try to make them support in their bad
time after 3 days all forget about death of lady
and sorrow but 5 daughters don't forget their
mother .they don't go school because their father
don't want to send them school ...
Now 3 months have passed . Girls don't go for
school ,
and their father wants to marry again . Elder
daughter is 13 years old , second daughter is 12
years old , 11 years old 9 years old and 7 years
old.. God knows what will happen them now but
we can pray for their bright future..
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My friends ... this is the true story and these girls

live near to my home i want to help them but i am
not so rich so i always pray for these little
princesses....

It's unbelievable but it was sent to me even the

pics about the girls! :)

They are so awesome!

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This pics are about Anees, a my friend in Pakistan.

:)

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Calogero
Come si genera la povert?
Beh, a questa domanda ti rispondo subito: si genera
dallingiustizia. Parlo della povert forzata, nel senso
che non la scelgo io, ma mi viene imposta da qualcun
altro, o dalla societ, o dal sistema. Penso che allinizio
della creazione non era cos e che a un certo punto
stato luomo a prevalere su un altro uomo. Poi
questingiustizia stata ereditata, e oggi vediamo un
mondo ingiusto.

Perch le persone, con tutto quello che hanno nelle

loro case, attorno a loro, non hanno un minimo di
sensibilit per fare la differenza?
So che perch non si ha un rapporto personale con il
povero, un minimo di relazione, o anche solo un incontro,
un minimo di amicizia. Solo perch lo si vede per strada,
a domandare, lo si evita. Magari anche perch sporco.
Ma cos si perde quello che, penso, a volte neanche
importa assai: la ricchezza che essi possono dare. Cio
la gioia, lumanit, lamicizia che possono dare. Cose
spesso disprezzate.
Ricordo una persona anziana, il sig. Calogero, che ho
conosciuto alla stazione a Catania. So che era di

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Villarosa, era stato in Australia per lavoro, aveva avuto dei

problemi con i familiari e si trovava senza casa.
Mi ricordava mio zio della Germania che era andato l per
trovar lavoro. Io volevo bene a mio zio. Penso che se la
gente volesse bene chi sta male o conoscesse le loro
storie, se ci fosse almeno un minimo di contatto e meno
pregiudizio, sarebbe diverso.

La povert giusto che si risolva con le armi da

guerra o con lamare il prossimo?
Beh, questa domanda facilissima da rispondere: con
lamare il prossimo. Ma la risposta tanto facile quanto
bella.

Pensi che se le persone venissero trattate con il

diritto di uguaglianza si potrebbe costruire un mondo
migliore?
Io penso che puoi trattare una persona come vuoi, ma se
il suo cuore non cambia inutile. Se non tocchi il suo
cuore, il suo modo di agire sar uguale e non cambi il
mondo. Ovvio, penso non si debba fare distinzione tra
persone, discriminazione, ma se non cambiano in bene i
pensieri, le intenzioni dei cuori, come si pu costruire un
mondo migliore?

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Credo anche che lo Spirito di Dio rinnova ogni cosa, d la

forza per fare certe cose. E senza di esso vieni
schiacciato dalla situazione in cui ti trovi e c il rischio
che anche tu rimani lo stesso e non cambi niente.

Avendo la possibilit di dare qualcosa al prossimo e

vedendo quel sorriso sul suo volto cresce quel calore
forte dentro di te?
C pi gioia nel dare che nel ricevere. Lho provato tante
volte a Catania con tanti volti diversi. Ero pieno di energia
quando tornavo nella casa a Catania dopo aver dato
qualcosa ai senza tetto con i ragazzi. Energia che mi
faceva abbattere le barriere tra me e i ragazzi nella casa.
Penso che questa energia venga dal vivere
pubblicamente un profondo rapporto umano. E la via della
giustizia di Dio quella giusta nella societ.

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Psalm 34 - The Happiness of

Those Who Trust in God
1

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who

fear Him,
And delivers them.
8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

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Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10

The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good
thing.
11

Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12

Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13

Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

14

Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

15

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

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19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20

He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.

21

Evil shall slay the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,

And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

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Live Like You're Loved

God knows you're not perfect.
He knows that you'll fall.
But God still loves you
In spite of it all.
God helps those in need.
Does not matter who.
He's not 'bout Himself
But for me and for you.
He's slow to get angry
And quick to forgive.
And it is His will
For us to forgive.
God doesn't tell lies.
He speaks only the truth.
He believes in us all
And protects me and you.
God cherishes us
With an unending love.
He trains by example
So live like you're loved.1

. From the devotional book "A Second Cup with Jesus" written by author
Lucinda Berry Hill.

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Thanks
Thx Anees. Thx Annie. Thx the Most High, our Lord and King Christ
Jesus.
Thx to my friends that helped me: Gaetano Incremona, Salvatore Lo
Sauro. U are special. To the guys in the house. You know who you are! :)
Thx to the Incremona's family! :) And thx to every person I met in this
way, in Catania, through the phone, internet while in Gagliano too, that
supported me and gave me encouragement and a light in a still so long
dark time. Thank you.

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Get in touch, please :)

https://www.facebook.com/angelo.sorte
https://www.twitter.com/AngeloSorte
https://www.youtube.com/user/AngeloSorte

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