Ten young adults aged 18-24 from across the British Connexion returned last month from a pilgrimage by rail to Rome, organised by the Global Relationships team and the Methodist Church in Italy (OPCEMI). They were joined for the week by Revd Luca Anziani, President of OPCEMI.
Whilst there was plenty of time to savour the delights of art, architecture and gelato in the cities of Milan, Bologna and Rome, the primary purpose of the pilgrimage was to encounter the mission and ministry of OPCEMI. Many of these encounters were with other young adults, which led to much laughter and endless rounds of the family card game, Uno!
There was also opportunity to join in with local mission. On Sunday morning, before worship in Milan, our pilgrims were up early to help distribute food and basic clothing to the street homeless with whom the local Methodist Church is building relationship. Later in the week, during their stay at OPCEMI’s retreat centre near Rome, the young adults joined a local youth group in an interactive prayer and reflection exercise around the story of Noah’s Ark and their experience of climate breakdown.
A constant thread throughout the week was migration. City centre congregations typically represented the global Methodist family and we heard of the work churches are doing to ensure that they are places of belonging for everyone. One church was introducing an AI translation service in worship for the increasing Chinese diaspora. The growing movements of people around the world as a result of conflict, poverty and persecution is also changing the face of the church’s mission. Many of the street homeless we encountered in Milan were recent migrants. The pilgrim group heard a moving testimony from Revd Anziani about work in helping to finance and support “humanitarian corridors” for refugees arriving on Italian shores which led to OPCEMI receiving a World Methodist Peace Award.
In total, the group boarded seven intercity trains and took at least twenty-five separate journeys by bus and metro, showing that travel to and around Southern Europe is possible by public transport. Although the geographical journey is now over, the relationships forged will hopefully lead to future opportunities for both British and Italian participants and churches. The pilgrims’ relationship with God, and with each other, was deepened and we pray it will reach fresh depths as they continue to reflect on their encounters in Italy.
By Revd Rachel Parkinson, who led the Encounter Together in Italy pilgrimage with her husband Neil Parkinson.
