Ninth Edition of the Curso Alpha in Placetas “Holiness for All, a Path that Transforms”
Since the beginning of Lent, the mission in Placetas has been living to the rhythm of the ninth edition of the Curso Alpha, a formation and sharing program designed to help each person deepen their faith. The theme chosen this year — “Holiness for All, a Path that Transforms” — recalls an essential truth of Christian life: holiness is not a distant ideal reserved for a few exceptional people. It is a call addressed to everyone, in the concrete reality of everyday life.
In a context often marked by material difficulties and uncertainty, this journey seeks to show that the Gospel can transform each person’s life through the simplicity of everyday gestures: within the family, at work, and in relationships with others. Holiness is built patiently, through fidelity and through concrete love for one’s neighbor.
Since the beginning of the program, several meetings have already taken place in the different communities of our pastoral area. During the first week, participants discovered the luminous figure of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a witness of Christ’s compassion in service to the poorest. Her life reminded everyone that holiness is often lived through simple gestures filled with love.
The second week was dedicated to Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a physician and mother, whose courageous testimony invited participants to reflect on the value of life and the gift of self.
During the third meeting, the groups explored the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Her story, marked by slavery and suffering, deeply moved the participants. Her ability to forgive and to transform pain into love through faith opened many rich conversations within the groups.
This week, participants will discover the figure of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian layman known for his joy, his deep faith, and his commitment to serving the poor. His witness shows that holiness can also be lived in youth, in friendship, in social commitment, and in a simple but coherent Christian life.
The program follows a dynamic that encourages the participation of everyone. Each meeting begins with a time of sharing in small groups, allowing participants to express what they are experiencing and to create a fraternal atmosphere. This is followed by a moment of common prayer, before the presentation of the theme of the week and the life of the saint.
This year, however, the organization of the program had to adapt to a very concrete reality. Normally, the priests travel each week to the different communities to give the main talk. But the significant fuel shortages currently affecting the country have made these trips very difficult.
In order to continue the program, a simple solution was put in place: the priests record their teachings on video, and these videos are then shown in each community during the meeting. After the viewing, participants gather again in small groups for a time of discussion and exchange about the theme.
An essential role is played by the hosts, lay people who accompany the small groups throughout the program. Their mission is to ensure that everyone can express themselves freely in an atmosphere of respect, listening, and fraternity. Thanks to their faithful and discreet presence, the meetings become a true space for dialogue and spiritual growth.
Week after week, this Curso Alpha is becoming a privileged place of encounter, reflection, and sharing. Walking with the saints, participants gradually discover that holiness is not something distant, but a path that is possible for everyone.
We continue to entrust this journey to prayer, so that these meetings may bear much fruit and help many people move forward with confidence on the path of the Gospel.
