During the first two weeks of August 2017 several candidates from the Italian Province traveled to Albania on a mission trip.  They joined the Adorers of the Blood of Christ who have been ministering in Albania for dozens of years.  The work was centered in the town of Mamurras which is located about thirty miles from the capital city of Tirana.  Sr. Isabella Ticconi, ASC coordinated the work which also included an ASC postulant and several lay people.

Albania was under a dictatorial communist regime for decades and Christians suffered much persecution.  Churches and mosques were confiscated and turned into government buildings.  Slowly, with the fall of the regime, the country is becoming more aligned with the rest of Europe.  However, the poverty and economic situation is still dire.     

It was into this context that the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and the Missionaries of the Precious Blood worked to bring the message of St. Gaspar.  Their days were filled with a variety of activities.  In the mornings time was spent on renovating a local parishioner’s home.  At the outset of the trip the home was lacking in running water and electricity.  By the end of the mission the house was lit by electric lights and had running water.  In addition to the manual labor, the candidates spent time working with children from the local area.  They engaged the children in art, games, dancing, and sports.  It was an interreligious encounter as well since many of the

children are Muslim.  The candidates and ASC postulant even put on a theatrical performance telling the story of St. Gaspar, St. Maria de Mattias, and Venerable Giovanni Merlini.  Rev. Domenico Parlavecchia, C.PP.S. was also part of the trip and he led the children in catechesis and prayer.  

Time was also spent in the town of Durres where the candidates joined Rev. Altin Shabani, C.PP.S.  In this remote village the candidates ministered to people who truly are living on the margins:  the blind, the deaf, and the orphans.  These were people who needed to experience the redeeming power of the Precious Blood in their lives. 

The experience in Albania also provided an opportunity to share community life.  Time was spent together in the daily experiences of preparing meals, praying, and sharing table fellowship for hours on end.  The time together offered a sweet perfume to the entire trip.   

Information and photos for this article were provided by Andrea Velocci and Federico Rossi, candidates from the Italian Province.