Glen Burnie: Italian ministry partners with local congregations

At its simplest, Operation Mato Grosso is love in action.

The mission was founded by Italian priest Fr. Ugo de Censi, and touched the local community when missionary Matteo Santi Amantini asked whether he could speak about the mission with Christ the King Church’s Fr. Louis Martin and his three congregations.

Over the Lenten season, Martin’s congregations joined hands with St. Philip Neri and Msgr. Slade Catholic School to collect food and funds to benefit poor folks in South America -specifically Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru.

Children visited grocery stores, asking patrons for donations of the mission’s six staples: pasta, sugar, canned vegetables, oil, rice and flour. The group was able to fill a shipping container with 38,000 pounds of food.

“It was so clear that God was opening doors all along the way,” Martin said.

First, Martin and Santi Amantini were able to secure reduced rate shipping of the container.

When the shipper learned the contents of the container and what the mission was doing, he immediately offered to ship the container for free. The group to fill a container twice the size next year. Local youth groups recently held a car wash to raise funds.

Santi Amantini said he is so inspired by the mission and by its founder, Fr. Ugo, he has given his life to the mission. He said he felt as a young man with a good life, he lacked nothing, but it was hard to find happiness.

Someone asked Santi Amantini if he’d be interested in helping the poor and he agreed — he could empathize, and liked the idea of working rather than just fundraising.

Santi Amantini and many of Operation Mato Grosso’s volunteers labor for money doing jobs such as painting or landscaping. They then give that money to the mission.

“And I was not alone – I was part of a group,” Santi Amantini said. “I realized it was a good way to build a friendship – a good friendship.”

Santi Amantini said sharing that common goal and the same ideals formed tight bonds. He also met his wife while participating.

The mission seeks to help the poor with basic needs, such as running water, schools, clinics and food. However, it also seeks to help folks become self-sufficient and care for one another.

Workshops were established with about 700 artisans who make items such as furniture, metal items, carvings, stained glass and paper. A store selling furniture is located in Federal Hill. Each piece is made by a single artisan, who is paid before the item is sold. The workshops fill lots of orders for churches.

Martin and Santi Amantini returned last week from a paper convention in New York. Martin said a major chain store showed interest in the mission’s handmade paper. Martin said the mission may have to expand its paper facilities.

After his introduction to the mission, Martin said he won’t be content to simply retire from the priesthood in a few years. He imagines he’ll continue to serve with the mission, not unlike Fr. Ugo. He says the mission helps him learn more about God all the time.

The youth groups, in America and in Italy, plan to have youth missionaries speak to each other’s groups, which Martin says will help kids feel more connected and encouraged.

Santi Amantini said most volunteers stay connected to the mission throughout life, simply in different capacities. All are motivated by the common bond of love they share. There is no requirement of Catholicism-simply a desire to help.

“Christianity is about work,” Martin said. “You have to walk the talk.”

Santi Amantini said although sometimes he feels stupid because he has nothing, he feels the only thing that makes a difference is love.

“I just can’t give up to think that life is just about thinking about myself and getting stuff for me.”

For more information, call the church at 410-766-5070.

Crime watch meeting

The Citizens against Crime quarterly meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. today. The program will include a slide presentation and discussion by Anne Arundel County police officer Edward Gessler entitled “Guns: real or fake”.

Sgt. Ryan Frashure of public affairs will update the community on current events in the area and will be accompanied by his service dog, Comfort. Other local officers will be on hand. The community is welcome. Refreshments will be provided. For information, contact Kathi Hiett at 410-768-1854.

Grief support

GriefShare, Your Journey from Mourning to Joy, is a 13-week study designed to help individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The Rev. Ken McDonald will facilitate a GriefShare 1-3 p.m. June 29 at Glen Burnie UMC, 5 Second Avenue SE, in Room 59.

GriefShare includes a video seminar, group discussion and personal workbook. The group will be limited to 12 participants. To register, call 410-761-4381. For more information about GriefShare visit www.griefshare.org.

Vacation Bible school

Ferndale United Methodist Church, 117 Ferndale Road, will offer its vacation Bible school 5-8:30 p.m. July 10-14. Dinner is included and the event is free.

For more information, call 410-761-2880 or email officefumc@verizon.net.

Music camp, soccer registration

Faith Baptist Church, 7378 E. Furnace Branch Road, will hold its Kids’ Music Camp June 25- 28. The times are 3-7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Kids will learn an entire Christian musical in four days.

The musical will be performed at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cost is $15 per child and includes a t-shirt, rehearsal CD and pizza on Sunday. Register at WelcomeTo.Faith/kids.

*Upward soccer registration is open for boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade. Early registration costs $75 per child until July 24, when it will increase to $85 per child. Register at WelcomeTo.Faith/upward.

For more information, call 410-761-5346.

At the library

The Summer Reading Kick-Off will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday at the Glen Burnie Regional Library, 1010 Eastway. Different activities will be offered each hour.

The Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble will offer kids a better understanding of the world through dance and music beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

For more information, call the library at 410-222-6970 or visit http://www.aacpl.net/location/glenburnie.

To share your news in the Glen Burnie area, contact Amy Laque at MDGazetteAmy@gmail.com or 443-924-6440. Follow her on Twitter @GlenBurnieTalk.