Community Cenacolo
By Michael K. Jones

Community Cenacolo is an organization founded by Sister Elvira Petrozzi in 1983. A member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity in Italy, Sister Elvira felt a strong desire to reach out to young people who had taken a wrong path. It took some years before Sister's Superiors granted permission, meanwhile Sister Elvira says she felt like a volcano inside, prayed much and never gave up hope.

Though it was not fit to live in, an old ruined house in Saluzzo, Italy was leased to the Sisters and the project began. Today that run down old building is now the Mother House of Community Cenacolo, a worldwide organization with 33 fraternities throughout Italy, France, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina (Medjugorje), Ireland, Brazil, Austria, Dominican Republic, USA (Florida) and Mexico.

Community Cenacolo accommodates about 900 young men and women. Many are drug addicted desperate lost souls. Passing through the doors of Community Cenacolo, these young people begin to feel hope and a sense of being, and family. The aim of the Community is to renew the family; to help the families meet Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer, also, to bring support, love, healing and faith.

The day begins at six o'clock in the morning, in the chapel, where the rosary is recited. Making bread, cleaning the house, masonry work, gardening, woodworking, etc. all these things are done by the members of the community. By the end of the day, much has been done, and much has been learned, the 15 decades of the Rosary said, and the Gospel shared.