The cultural section of the Italian embassy in Tel Aviv offered the pupils of the secondary school of the Holy Land of Jaffa a festival of colour, harmony and beauty, all thanks to the group of flagwavers of Gubbio, who on 4th June offered a repeat of the performance they had given in the residence of the Italian Ambassador at the reception for the anniversary of the Italian Republic, on 2nd June.
They showed their excellence in front of all the pupils who for the occasion assembled in the courtyard of the school and, with eyes wide open, they followed every tiny movement of the event. They admired the colours of the 15th century costumes, the colours of the flags and how they flapped and were surprised each time by how they were thrown up into the air in perfect synchrony. They seemed magnetized by the colours, movement and beauty.
It was striking to see how this group of young flagwavers, who represent a rich historical past, light years away from the experience of your youngsters from Jaffa, used to spending hours in front of the computer and without similar Medieval traditions, was able to attract the attention and enthusiasm of the pupils.
The young flagwavers were very pleased to be able to perform in a Franciscan school! The Franciscans are very close to the people of Gubbio, and not only because of the episode of the wolf which, as we are told in St. Francis’s “Little Flowers”, became Brother Wolf. St. Francis left a very deep mark on that Medieval city and the Franciscan presence is an integral part of the cityscape.
It was natural for me to see the visit of these youngsters as though it were St. Francis himself who had come to wave the ideal of charity and service, the ideal of the Friar Minor, and to placate that part of the wolf that continues to be present in each of us, to teach us once again that omnia vincit amor.
At the end of the event, gifts were exchanged and lots of photos were taken. Everybody wanted their photo taken with the flagwavers. Then there were refreshments so that they could recuperate their strength: they had used a lot up of energy, also because of the traditional costumes which are made from wool and fine velvet, in the sun which was shining generously.
I think that for our youngsters it was also an excellent occasion to reflect on how important it is for each people to keep their traditions, culture and history and thus protect their identity.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm
Head of the Holy Land Secondary School - Jaffa
They showed their excellence in front of all the pupils who for the occasion assembled in the courtyard of the school and, with eyes wide open, they followed every tiny movement of the event. They admired the colours of the 15th century costumes, the colours of the flags and how they flapped and were surprised each time by how they were thrown up into the air in perfect synchrony. They seemed magnetized by the colours, movement and beauty.
It was striking to see how this group of young flagwavers, who represent a rich historical past, light years away from the experience of your youngsters from Jaffa, used to spending hours in front of the computer and without similar Medieval traditions, was able to attract the attention and enthusiasm of the pupils.
The young flagwavers were very pleased to be able to perform in a Franciscan school! The Franciscans are very close to the people of Gubbio, and not only because of the episode of the wolf which, as we are told in St. Francis’s “Little Flowers”, became Brother Wolf. St. Francis left a very deep mark on that Medieval city and the Franciscan presence is an integral part of the cityscape.
It was natural for me to see the visit of these youngsters as though it were St. Francis himself who had come to wave the ideal of charity and service, the ideal of the Friar Minor, and to placate that part of the wolf that continues to be present in each of us, to teach us once again that omnia vincit amor.
At the end of the event, gifts were exchanged and lots of photos were taken. Everybody wanted their photo taken with the flagwavers. Then there were refreshments so that they could recuperate their strength: they had used a lot up of energy, also because of the traditional costumes which are made from wool and fine velvet, in the sun which was shining generously.
I think that for our youngsters it was also an excellent occasion to reflect on how important it is for each people to keep their traditions, culture and history and thus protect their identity.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm
Head of the Holy Land Secondary School - Jaffa