spazio + spadoni supports the nuns in every field
On the occasion of the Educating Community Soccer Festival, the Italian national team of nuns played in the Opera M jersey
It’s not often you see nuns playing soccer; much less, as participants in a tournament. Instead, on September 27 and 28, they were at the Comunità Incontro in Amelia, on the occasion of the first Festival dedicated to social soccer in Italy, “Calcio Comunità Educante.”
In the two days dedicated to the themes of inclusion and solidarity, created to celebrate a sport that can become a tool for unity and growth, the Italian National Team of Sisters could not in fact be absent, supported by spazio + spadoni, partner of the initiative together with Fidia and Laureus-Sport for Good.
On the jersey of the players, the logo of “Opera M” recalls the challenge and mission of spazio + spadoni, which is to promote and develop-“reEvolutionizing”-the Works of Mercy in the world through direct and planned actions, involving territories and people. First and foremost, the sisters, who are daily merciful presences next to people and their needs.
The game of spazio + spadoni is played on mercy
“Our aim is to foster generative paths between Italian experiences of volunteerism and social engagement and women’s religious congregations scattered around the world. Therefore, on this important occasion, we could not but be there,” explains founder Luigi Spadoni.
It is therefore no coincidence that the Lucchese movement has joined the event and supported the Sister Football Team, the first national team in the world composed entirely of nuns and religious, affiliated with SS. Lazio and always ready to proclaim the Gospel “on the field,” transmitting to the boys the values of joy, solidarity and friendship.
Sisters, multipliers of good
“The presence of the sisters manages to generate works of mercy on every occasion, so spazio + spadoni will always try to be at their side, to give them support and to help them grow and become multipliers of good. Especially in the poorest countries,” Spadoni continued.
Because cheering for them, and not just in the stands of a soccer field, means giving new possibilities for Life to unfold, to spread love and mercy in small and large concrete gestures.
The meaning of a soccer tournament
At the tournament of this first edition of the CCE Festival, another special team, that of the boys with disabilities, also participated, demonstrating that soccer is not just competition, gossip and betting, but can go beyond and become an opportunity for growth and change.
This is the intent with which Comunità Incontro, which has been present in Terni for 45 years to combat drug addiction, organized the event; together with them, “Angeli Press,” the social communication agency led by journalist and writer and Third Sector expert Paola Severini Melograni.
For those who would like to learn more, the program “Or not” gave space to the initiative in its Nov. 10 episode. Dedicated to the memory of Santo Romano, a young Neapolitan soccer player killed by a peer at the end of a fight, it is available on Raiplay.
On Nov. 14, the promoters narrated the CCE Festival in the classrooms of Rome’s Foro Italico University to raise awareness of social issues and good practices among students.