by Domenico D’Alia

I am Fr. Domenico D’Alia, Missionary of the Precious Blood and Pastor of the Parish “San Gaspare del Bufalo” in Rome, located between the neighborhoods of Colli Albani and Arco di Travertino. It is a very large parish of over 30,000 souls, served by myself and three Associate Pastors, with the presence of a Permanent Deacon as well. It is a very active parish because we really go out to the people. By embodying the spirituality of the Precious Blood, in the parish context, we educate the people in reconciliation and forgiveness and also to be instruments of peace wherever they are. We have just celebrated the feast of St. Gaspar, a feast that grows more and more over the years. St. Gaspar del Bufalo, in fact, is seen like a great father who gathers all his children around him, thus also it’s becoming a community feast where we look each other in the eyes and pause for a while, through moments of conviviality and sharing.

Great is the strength of charity in this Parish, expressing indeed the Blood of Christ under every aspect: listening to the cry of the last, of the weakest, of the frail where they are… and the b

eautiful thing is that this is not the work of an individual or a small group of people, but it is the whole community walking and espousing the many initiatives promoted during the pastoral year. 

This has always been my dream since I became a Pastor. I am beginning my seventh year and I perceive a community that is strong, free, open and, above all, welcoming to all who wish to approach our reality.