Cesar-stock in Paola, a construction site for the soul

Group photo for the young Cesar-stock

the young Cesar-stock

From December 26 to 30, 2025, the city of Paola (CS) was a true “workshop of the soul” for the Cesar-stock youth group. Thirty of us, immersed in the rugged and solemn beauty of Calabria, shared an experience that intertwined the centuries-old history of Saint Francis of Paola—founder of the Order of Minims—with the challenges of the present. As with every adventure shared in the group—inspired by the teachings of Saint Cesar de Bus—the atmosphere was always welcoming and sincere.
Thanks to the testimonies and meetings with Brother Antonio, a seminarian of the Minims, Sister Selena, consecrated among the cloistered Minims, and Father Aurelio Marino (parish priest of the church of the Madonna del Carmine, overlooking the ancient Byzantine underground church of Sotterra a Paola), we reflected on the themes of vocational choice and discernment: so important for us young people, immersed in a society focused on appearances.
Many voices have accompanied us on this journey, but all inspired by the figure of Saint Francis who, little by little, emerged from the icons to become flesh and accompany us.
It was Fra’ Antonio in particular, who, with his passionate story, revealed to us the secrets of the Sanctuary dedicated to Francis of Paola and the sacredness of its underground passages, guiding us to those places where the saint chose the path of extreme humility. Learning the history of the “Minimo” through those who live its charisma daily allowed us to look at our visit in a new way, opening a more lively internal dialogue, allowing us to find in the signs of the past a compass for our future.
The meetings with Sister Selena and Father Aurelio reminded us of the importance and dynamics of choices; the moments of silence and sharing helped us appreciate every word we heard. It’s wonderful that some of us described the various testimonies as “tangible evidence of the Lord’s work” or realized that happiness is within reach if the choice is the fruit of “the subtle balance between awareness and heart.”
Through role-playing games, sharing thoughts, and time spent cooking, each of us had the opportunity to reflect on the choices we’ve made, those to come, and how to respond to the call to a greater plan.
Listening, silence, prayer, sharing… but spirituality for Paola was also an explosion of life. Between one activity and another, music became our universal language. Unforgettable moments were punctuated by the strains of the “Cesar Song”: playing our anthem together was not just a moment of relaxation, but a way to express our joy and sense of belonging.
Over these five days, the “group” has transformed into a “family.” Between laughter and the sound of guitar chords, new, profound friendships have been born, born from the joy of being together, unfiltered, united by a common goal.
This energy then translated into concrete actions during our service at the nursing home. Here, we realized that the joy we felt singing the hymn could become comfort for the elderly. We brought our enthusiasm to the hallways of the facility, receiving in return looks that spoke louder than words.
We are now preparing for the next events, the introduction to the spiritual exercises (we can choose between two dates: April 30th – May 3rd, or May 29th – June 2nd) and the Cesar-stock camp in Cavaillon (the final date is August 18th – 27th). We hope to see everyone again and to be able to welcome other children and young people who wish to meet Saint Cesar in the places where he lived.