Eleventh Natale Torchlight Procession Welcomes 2,000 Attendees and Raises Funds

Torch in hand and nose turned upward, they waited in vain for the weather to become more forgiving, but in the end, their determination prevailed and the procession of the eleventh edition of the Natale Torchlight Procession began.

The decision to proceed with the event was made by the members of the Organizing Committee, who, after a brief consultation, felt they could not undo the hard work of dozens of volunteers or send home the crowd that had been gathered at the Oratorio square since early afternoon.

The number of people was certainly not as high as in previous editions, but it undoubtedly exceeded two thousand individuals.

Attendees and Speeches

To salute this small army of brave participants—mostly families as usual—was the Archbishop of Trento, Monsignor Luigi Bressan, who congratulated the members of the committee led by Pietro Frabbri and all volunteers, while highlighting the importance of solidarity underlying the event, emphasizing the symbolic meaning of “bringing light” for Christians.

Speeches and Participants

The child choristers of Sul palco faced some challenges, along with the high-ranking clergyman, the mayor of Riva, Cesare Malossini, and the deputy mayor of Tenno, Gianluca Frizzi, who arrived on foot from Cologna at the head of the “Tennese Christmas” torchlight procession and joined the Riva contingent simultaneously with the small group formed by the Gruppo Iniziative Varone.

Final Moment and Fundraising

As always, the children were the most enthusiastic, for whom the rain was nothing but a fun unexpected event within a gathering that each year considers their lively and joyful presence a key element of its success.

After the customary greetings and speeches, the procession was finally able to set off, but not before the organizers listed, as usual, the names of the nine volunteer groups whose funds collected during the entire day’s event would be entirely donated: Anfass – Centro educativo di Arco, Operazione Mato Grosso, Gruppo Missionario Oltresarca, Associazione trentina Aiutiamoli a vivere, Croce Rossa Italiana – Gruppo Valle di Ledro, Centro di Aiuto alla Vita, Gruppo Missionario di Varone, Cittadinanzattiva.