San Vigilio Commemoration to Boost Cross-Diocesan Lake Garda Collaborations

The decisive impulso for the evangelization not only of the city of Trento but also in the Brescia, Verona, and Upper Mantua areas is particularly attributed to San Vigilio, whose sixth centenary of death (400 or 405 in Val Rendena) is being commemorated. The interdiocesan committee (Verona, Brescia, and Trento), aiming to recover the memory of collaborations throughout history among the three entities in religious and civic fields, intends to promote a popular event and a religious celebration presided over by the bishops of the three dioceses, scheduled for April 25, 2001. This date was chosen also to honor the tradition of the «Blessing of the Lake», during the major rogations, which the Garda parish celebrates precisely on April 25 at Punta San Vigilio. The event aims to rekindle the urgency of more frequent collaborations among the three realities, following past experiences both ecumenically—such as in tourism pastoral care, especially for German-speaking guests—and more recently in youth work. For this reason, the gathering will also feature an ecumenical segment with the participation of an expected 2,000 people.

The project, currently being developed by the event organizing secretariat of the Committee, envisions a lake crossing with three Navigarda boats departing from Riva, Peschiera, and Desenzano. The first boat from the Trentino coast will gather the Archbishop, authorities, and participants from the Diocese of Trento; subsequent stops are planned for Torbole, Limone, Malcesine, and Garda. The second boat, departing from the Veronese coast of Peschiera, will include the Bishop, authorities, and participants from the Diocese of Verona, and will also host any participants from Mantua. The last boat will depart from the Brescia coast, originating in Desenzano; it will transport, along with the Bishop, authorities, and participants from the Diocese of Brescia, a particular focus on the many inland communities with churches dedicated to San Vigilio (more than a dozen scattered inland along Lake Garda). The two «San Nicolò» boats will welcome the three bishops and a delegation from the three dioceses at Garda, accompanied by private boats and water sports clubs. They will head towards San Vigilio for the blessing ritual and rogation processions.

The day’s logo will feature a wave with a person surfing and the slogan: «On the route… of the Gospel»; the commemorative symbol will be a booklet containing historical-logistical information and prayers for the celebration, along with a cap or scarf bearing the logo. Additionally, some historians from the Diocese of Trento will be available to illustrate, both in civil and religious contexts, the life and work of San Vigilio across the three dioceses. The organizing secretariat of the meeting on Lake Garda, involving the three bishops, is composed of: don Giuseppe Grosselli, don Ferdinando Murari, and Enio Meneghelli, president of the Tourism Promotion Agency for Trento; don Giorgio Benedetti, don Nicola Azzali, and Enrico Merenda for Verona; don Valerio Scolari and don Valerio Moschen for Brescia.