Mistero Grande Project

Contact
information

Office/person in charge:
don Renzo Bonetti and Management Board

Address:
Mistero Grande Address: Via Filegare, 600 37056 Bionde di Salizzole (VR) Italy

Email address:
segreteria@misterogrande.org

Website/social media:

Mistero Grande Project is a marriage formation program in Italy. Mistero Grande works with couples, families, parishes, and family-orientated associations so that all may discover the good that is the Domestic Church and its mission as a sacrament ordained for the building up of the ecclesial and social community (cf. CCC, 1534).

The Project aims to offer a theological, experiential and pastoral deepening of the treasure of Grace which is the Sacrament of Marriage, through organizing formation conferences, managing conjugal, family spirituality and pastoral meetings, and evangelizing activities.

Almost all the activities of the Project can be performed in one’s ecclesial contexts, using subsidies and manuals that make it possible to articulate what has been personally experienced; those who wish to offer them in their ecclesial setting are asked to adhere to the texts and activities.

Mistero Grande promotes theological research in collaboration with the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute in Rome, the Theological Institute, the Superior Institute of Religious Sciences of Assisi, and the Franciscan Minor Friars of the Umbria Region.

What is it?

What is this initiative about?

The Project aims to offer a theological, experiential and pastoral deepening of the treasure of Grace which is the Sacrament of Marriage, through organizing formation conferences, managing conjugal, family spirituality, and pastoral meetings, and evangelizing activities.

Almost all the activities of the Project can be taken up in one’s ecclesial contexts, using subsidies and manuals that make it possible to repeat what has been personally experienced; those who wish to offer them in their ecclesial setting are asked to adhere to the texts and activities.

Specifically, the following activities are carried out

– Paths for people in every state of life: Conferences and Formation Meetings; Schools of Evangelization; Family Communities of Evangelization (CFE); Courses of Theology of the Body (TOB); Worship (Singing Eucharistic Adoration).

– Spiritual and formative programs for young couples, married couples, and families: Seminars; Preparatory programs for weddings; Formative retreats for young couples; Schools for formation of the identity and mission of the family

– Paths for special situations: Seminars for separated and divorced persons, for couples in a new union; Fraternity “Married forever” for faithful separated persons; Pathway “Fathers and Mothers always” to rediscover the fruitfulness of each married couple

 

How does it help?

In what way does this initiative enhance the formation of the laity?

The Misterogrande Project promotes activities and paths that allow every Christian to rediscover the nuptial dimension of every state of life.

The Sacrament of Marriage is the icon that God has chosen to reveal his love for us (cf. AL, 121). The Misterogrande Project intends to make every couple and family discover this gift, so that they may grow in their ability to love one another and to love.

Moreover, every lay faithful, contemplating the grace of the sacrament of marriage and living experiences of family communion, can grow in his relationship with the Lord, in understanding his life as loved by God, to choose to give himself to his brothers and sisters.

 

 

Why is it important?

Why is this initiative important for the training and advancement of the laity in your country?

Created in the image and likeness of the Trinity, every man and woman carry within themselves the everlasting vocation to love and to be in communion with others. Love is the fundamental and native vocation of every human being (cf. FC, 11). The activities of the Misterogrande Project, in rediscovering and promoting marriage and the family, enable every married couple and every layperson to rediscover that they loved by God and called to love Him and all their brothers and sisters. This is why many activities and events are offered to people in every state of life.

How did it start

How was this initiative developed?

The Misterogrande Project started in 2009 by a group of families and people from different parts of Italy, under the spiritual guidance of Msgr Renzo Bonetti. Initially, it proposed study conferences and spirituality seminars for couples, as well as evangelization activities with the family in the parish. The response of the couples involved was so enthusiastic that it greatly expanded the dimension of the project, directly and indirectly involving hundreds of families as well as many other people both in Italy and in other countries (Spain, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, United States of America…).

Mgr Renzo Bonetti, priest of the Diocese of Verona (VR), he carried out the ministries of Parish Priest, Rector of the Major Seminary and Vicar for Pastoral Care. Later he was Director of the National Office for the Pastoral Care of the Family of the Italian Episcopal Conference (1995-2003), Consultor of the Pontifical Council for the Family (2003-2009), Consultor at the Vatican Foundation “International Family Center of Nazareth” (from 2012 to date).

Benefits

Does it benefit the laity on a national or local level?

The Misterogrande Project promotes activities at the national level, such as the Sacrofano Conference, the TOB and WAHOU courses, the Courses in collaboration with the Friars Minor of Assisi, and activities and courses at the local level, such as some Seminars, the CFE, the Worships, also open to the laity.

The benefits for spouses and laypeople are essentially spiritual and formative. Also, the relationships that arise with married couples and other people known during the activities of the Project bring social and material benefits, living with freedom between people and couples.

Means and funding

Who funds the initiative? What is needed to launch this initiative?

The Misterogrande Project is essentially based on voluntary activities; the costs of events and materials are covered by the fees required for participation and small fundraising activities. A “Famiglia dono grande” Fund was also created to collect personal donations.

A local team (parishes, priests, families…) must purchase some basic equipment through the Misterogrande Project and prepare the spaces and other consumables to start the activities. It is possible to recover the costs sustained by the participants’ fees or offer them as a gift.

Learn more

Where can people learn more about this initiative?

On the website: www.misterogande.org

All the photos of the various activities available on the website, with further explanations and indications about the contents and how to implement the events.

Countries involved

Does this initiative exist in other countries?

Spain, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and the United States of America.

All programs are delivered in the native/local language. For information internazionale@misterogrande.org

How to start?

How can this initiative be implemented in other countries?

Please contact the email: segreteria@misterogrande.org


VIDEO