“What dwells in your hearts?” – Young student members of the Calasanz Movement met in Rome

The international program of the Pious Schools called “Close to Calasanz” aims to spread the knowledge of Piarist-affiliated young people of the order’s European countries, mostly of university age, those who study and work in the local Calasanz Movements (CM), regularly participate in joint activities in their free time, and as young adults are now consciously and searchingly following the path of Piarist spirituality.

The program invites young people to follow in the footsteps of Saint Joseph Calasanz, the founder of the Pious Schools, in a one-week summer youth meeting. Visiting the Roman and Assisi sites of Calazanz’s life, and being within the walls that preserve the history of the first Piarist schools, the participants can get closer to their own profession.

This year, Spanish, Polish and Hungarian young people traveled to the event. On the part of the leaders of the Pious Schools, Carles Gil, General Assistant responsible for Europe, greeted the gathered young people at a Zoom conference. Father General Pedro Aguado personally welcomed them at the General House. In his conversations with the participants, Father General asked them about their lives, vocations, experiences and also insecurities, as well as their personal attitudes towards the church, the Order and the Calasanz Movement.

The General House building’s history goes back to 1612. The building gave place to the first piarist school even before the establishment of the monastic order. St. Joseph Calasanz lived and taught in this building until his death. We consider him to be the initiator of public education. Father Calasanz died within these walls in 1648. His mortal remains rest in the main altar of the church. The hallowed place is still a place of pilgrimage.

On the other side of the river Tevere, the Trastevere district is revealed, where Calasanz first met the children of the poor neighborhoods of Rome on his every day, walking on those streets. From this situation he got the idea of establishing free schools for children outside the possibility of learning. In 1597 he opened the first school here in the small room of the Santa Dorotea church.

Calasanz was a great admirer of Francis of Assisi. He was influenced by the saint’s pure and simple turning to God and the created world. Calasanz visited the city of Assisi twice in his life, where he prayed about the biggest questions of his life. We did the same, following the path of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Joseph of Calasanz. When laying down the rules and constitutions of the Piarist order, Calasanz drew on the Franciscan rules.

In addition to visiting the memorial sites, the young people had the opportunity to present to each other the structure of their own CM activities, the benefits and experiences of working with young people and the Christian life lived in the community. They return home to their countries filled with new experiences, development, knowledge. They deliver these spiritual gifts to their own communities.

During the week, they got to know the child-raising and missionary activities of the local Piarist sisters (Calasanziane), through which the interested young people got even closer to our Founding Father in an active, charitable way.

“What dwells in your hearts?” – in these words, Father General, Pedro Aguado inspired the young people gathered at the Close to Calasanz meeting, to listen to their feelings.

They returned home with the following feelings and thoughts enriched in their hearts:

The “Close to Calasanz” trip was an amazing experience for me. Not only did the character, charism and mission of Saint Joseph Calasanz become closer to me, but it was also a great opportunity to create a bond with others. The most moving moment for me was volunteering with the children. I also have very fond memories of meeting Pedro, the General of the Piarist Order, who told us about the reality of the Piarist Order. I think this trip will always be in my heart!

(Sebastian Romaniak, Poland)

“One of the things that I loved the most about the journey is to see how all the different environments around us allowed us to connect with God. From the beautiful churches in Rome, to the nature in Assisi, the beach with the kids hosted by Calasanziants or the General House. Places to open your senses to pray, laugh, enjoy and feel closer to Calasanz.”

(Miriam Márquez, Spain)

“Father General asked us in Rome what dwells in our hearts. At the Close to Calasanz youth meeting, the young people of the European provinces and their companions came close to me. I am comforted by the knowledge, the now personal conviction, that we all live for the same values and dreams, even if we live far away from each other. We are not alone, because God has implanted in many dedicated hearts the desire to find each other, to accompany children and young people. I brought home movement, noise and joy of life from Rome, peace and silence from Assisi. Following the example of Calasanz, we can choose Jesus again and again every single day, even if we did not do so before. New day – new opportunity. Thank you for the experience and conviction!”

(Emőke Martos, Hungary)

We thank the hosts and organizers, as well as the participants, for the honorable opportunity.