A mission is always a very intense experience, but it is even more so when shared as a family: this is confirmed by Claudia Boila, Matteo Marziantonio, and their three children—the first family from the Salesian Triveneto region to serve on mission in the parish of Cretoaia (Moldova). The Marziantonio family, who live in the Castello district of Venice, traveled to the Moldovan parish during the first two weeks of last August. They say they had never had a missionary experience of this kind before and were positively struck right from their first encounter with the reality they encountered: “The welcome,” says Claudia, “was warm. The Grest kids had no expectations or demands, just the joy of meeting someone who had come there to play with them.” During the recreational and educational activities, Claudia and her eldest daughter, Arianna, served as activity leaders; her two youngest children, Rinaldo and Alessandra, joined the teams alongside the local children; and Matteo worked hard to help in every way possible. “Matteo and I also led a cooking workshop titled ‘Famous Italian Chefs,’”Claudia reports. Parents and children joyfully experienced their time at the Moldovan parish, forming sincere bonds that transcended even cultural and linguistic barriers and taking home important emotions, memories, and feelings: “I felt welcomed, just like in a family, by the Italian group of volunteers. And the same goes for the children and teens at Grest: I’m returning with a stronger faith in God and greater trust in others,” says Claudia, the mother. “When it was time to leave, I realized I had formed bonds that made saying goodbye so hard. I came away with a greater awareness of myself and my family,” says Matteo, the father.“I formed a beautiful friendship with Costya. One day I suggested a game with dirt and mud to the other children, and we played together without our different languages being a problem,” says Alessandra. “I, too, made friends with kids my own age without any language barriers; I’ve stayed in touch with many of them. For me, the best part was being able to call them ‘friends,’” confirms Arianna. “I really appreciated the different cuisines and the joy of sharing lunch together. I’ll always remember ‘Sestra,’ who took care of all the children as if they were her own,” says Rinaldo.
Even religious differences weren’t an obstacle: “Cretoaia,” Claudia explains, “is a predominantly Catholic town, but there are also a few Orthodox families. The beautiful thing is that, during Grest, we went to Mass every day, all together, and got along peacefully. We observed each other’s different rituals, but the joyful songs brought us all together.” The family says that in October, during Missionary Month, they’ll organize a gathering with the Castello community to share their experience. The parish of Cretoaia is part of the Salesian Province of Triveneto and was established in 2007. In 2021, the Moldovan bishop approved the transfer of the parish’s administration to the Salesians of Chisinau, and the following year, two volunteers from Italy traveled there to lend a hand. Since 2023, the parish has officially served as the site for the missionary experience of the Triveneto Salesian Youth Movement. The Marziantonio family from Venice traveled there this summer: “In Cretoaia,” Matteo observes, “the environment is rural and very poor, so work is often prioritized over education. For this reason, the young people struggle to imagine their own future. The Salesians’ commitment is to offer different models of life and education that can enable young people to reach for new dreams.” “Personally,” adds Claudia, their mother, “I’ve seen in some of them the ‘struggle’ of choosing to live with us rather than taking other paths that lead into the shadows. I’ll always remember the sigh of relief I’d let out when I saw them come back to play and grow up a little with our group.” Many of the families who turn to the mission have limited financial means, and while the volunteers ask for a symbolic fee for the program, they do not expect it to be paid every time. Fortunately, the contributions received from our country also cover the summer camp’s operating expenses. The Salesian mission, once again thanks to donations received over the years, has purchased a new projection screen and has begun setting up a classroom for children with special educational needs (SEN), particularly those with ADHD: two computers and a television have been purchased for augmentative and alternative communication. Furthermore, to improve the educators’ skills, a space has been set aside for their remote training with Italian professionals.
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