By Father Jaroslaw Skrzypek
Special to the Herald
Under a soaring Roman sky on June 16, an extraordinary spiritual mobilization began as roughly 800 priests from Redemptoris Mater seminaries across the Americas descended upon the Eternal City.
Representing every nation where these seminaries operate — spanning from Canada to Uruguay, with special guests from Asia, Europe and the Hawaiian islands — this massive assembly gathered for an intense international convivence. This retreat of prayer, radical missionary sending and deep ecclesial communion centered around the charism of the Neocatechumenal Way.
The initial days in Porto San Giorgio and the historic hills of Fermo focused on interior preparation, clearing the ground through the sacraments for the demanding mission ahead.
On June 17, the atmosphere was thick with prayer as 200 priests sat to hear confessions, offering the sacrament of penance to their brothers in ministry. This interior purification grounded them before they were sent out two by two into the cities, towns and villages of Italy.
Their mandate was a radical return to the poverty of the Gospels, journeying without money or cellphones, announcing the “kerygma” (proclamation of the Gospel) and relying entirely on divine providence for food and shelter.
On June 19, following a powerful catechesis by Neocatechumenal Way co-founder Kiko Arguello, the formal rite of sending took place. The day culminated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto; the main plaza was packed with 800 priests, pilgrims and tourists, providing a stunning public witness of faith just hours before the missionary teams set out on foot.
From June 20-23, the convocation split into two parallel, powerful currents of faith. More than 300 teams spread out across Italy, walking the neighborhoods, squares and parishes of the Italian dioceses to live out the Gospel in its most primitive form. Meanwhile, a dedicated segment of participants remained at the Neocatechumenal Way Center, transforming it into a powerhouse of liturgical intercession, scrutatio of the Scriptures and deep theological reflection.
The theological focus centered heavily on Pope Leo XIV’s February 2026 address regarding Christian formation, viewing his words through the lens of the official Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way.
Participants explored the pope’s warning that the church must avoid letting formators become mere pedagogue figures who transmit technical religious knowledge. Instead, formation must be rooted in fathers capable of generating true faith through love. This generation of faith cannot be accomplished by a lone priest, but rather through the collective love of a living, united community of families, youth, singles and consecrated souls working together to pass on the joy of the Gospel.
On June 24, the feast of St. John the Baptist, the entire body of 800 priests reunited for a general audience in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Leo. The day reached its liturgical pinnacle inside the breathtaking expanse of St. Peter’s Basilica, where they celebrated Mass together, reinforcing their deep bond with the successor of Peter.
The homily, delivered by Archbishop Javier Augusto Del Rio Alba of Arequipa, Peru, focused on reaffirming the presbyters’ missionary vocation. He reminded the priests that despite their weariness or fears of fruitless labor, their election remains absolute. He invited them to place their entire existence — including their pastoral fatigue, personal crises and human limitations — onto the altar, trusting the Holy Spirit to transform human weakness into holiness.
With the public portion of the pilgrimage concluded, the retreat entered its final, reflective days from June 25-28, allowing the priests to process the graces of the mission.
The convivence officially concluded on June 28. Arguello delivered a brief but solid introduction to the final celebration of the Eucharist, urging the community to interpret the signs of the times and warning against the constant temptation to seek human glory over the glory of God.
Father Mario Pezzi’s homily focused heavily on the mystery of the Eucharist and divine mercy within our modern, highly secularized age. The Neocatechumenal Way co-founder acknowledged that while many churches are empty and vocations are scarce, the Lord never abandons his church and continuously raises up small, deeply rooted communities to revitalize it.
Looking back from the perspective of a pastor returning to the Hawaiian islands, this convivence proved to be incredibly nourishing, recharging spiritual batteries with a burning zeal for souls. Stripped of worldly securities and unified under the successor of Peter, these 800 priests return to their global missions deeply renewed, ready to serve as fathers who generate true faith through love.
Father Jaroslaw Skrzypek is pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi.
Above: Hundreds of convivence attendees, pilgrims and tourists gathered June 19 outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Lareto for a musical performance. (Courtesy Father Jaroslaw Skrzypek)