“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. The opening words of the Mass echo beneath the high vaults and pointed arches. But we are not in one of England’s ancient Gothic churches, nor in the newer ones of the New World. We are in the parish of Santa Maria della Croce, in Foggia.
Located in the railway district, the parish – built to replace the old Church of Saint Helena, demolished in 1936 -welcomes beneath its naves not only Italian faithful, but also those who have come to our land from other continents. For this reason, at the request of Archbishop Ferretti, every Sunday at 12:00 p.m., Holy Mass at Santa Maria della Croce is celebrated (also) in English.
Presiding over the celebration are some religious members of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts, who carry out their pastoral service in Deliceto.
“When the Archbishop asked us to celebrate Mass in English, we didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately accepted the invitation,” says the parish priest, Father Francesco Saverio Trotta. “We’re still in a trial phase, but we’ve noticed participation is steadily increasing, not only among those who don’t speak Italian, but also among the younger parishioners.”
And it is precisely the young people of the parish, together with their families, who prepare and enliven the weekly English-language celebration. “Every Sunday we hand out a booklet to anyone attending Mass that contains the readings and prayers in both English and Italian,” explains Francesco, pointing to the bulletin boards. “For those who prefer, there’s also a QR code – by scanning it, people can follow the liturgy and the hymns directly from their smartphones.”
“We won’t deny that there were some difficulties at the beginning. The idea of celebrating the entire Mass in English was quickly set aside,” the young man continues. “The Archbishop asked us to welcome and integrate those who don’t understand our language, also through the liturgy. But since they live and work here in Italy, a Mass entirely in English wouldn’t have been very helpful. So we chose, and that’s what we do every Sunday at noon, to celebrate Mass with readings and prayers in both Italian and English.”
In a world that often divides, Santa Maria della Croce chooses to unite. The Word resounds in many languages, but the heart of faith speaks only one. It is the language of communion, listening, and welcome, renewed every Sunday in the pews of this church, a reminder to all that faith knows no borders. Voices may change, words may differ, but the gesture remains the same: the shared act of gathering, every Sunday, around the same altar.
