Taranto, 8 December 2019, “La Mensa dei Popoli” (The Peoples’ Soup Kitchen) is a project launched by the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. Its purpose is to offer a smile and a little human warmth to those who live on the edge of society, to some of the poor and homeless who wander around the streets of the Italian town of Taranto.
The initiative was led by volunteers of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, led by the Nob. Avv. Comm. Angelo Gadaleta, Delegate for Apulia of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, who offered a lunch on the Eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception at the “San Cataldo Vescovo di Taranto” Caritas Care Centre in the heart of the old town.
The Knights and Dames were welcomed by Don Nino Borsci, director of the Diocesan Caritas, who thanked them for their gesture of authentic Christian charity. They provided the meals through a catering service and after preparing it they served them personally at the tables with true “spirit of service” in favour of the numerous guests who came to the refectory.
The “feast day” menu was particularly appreciated by the guests of the care centre, who lack the means to buy a hot meal, among them many immigrants and non-EU citizens, but above all many Italians who, due to the misadventures of life, have ended up on the edge of an indifferent society. In the morning some representatives of the Order of SS. Maurice and Lazarus were received by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Taranto, H.E. Mgr. Filippo Santoro, who wanted to personally thank the organisers for this charitable gesture and for the special attention they have for the city of Taranto.
Last year the Dynastic Order of the Royal House of Savoy organised “Natale ai Tamburi”, a project to donate toys to the children of needy families in the Tamburi district of Taranto, so that they could find a gift in their homes on the Holy Christmas night.
On that occasion, Mr. Angelo Gadaleta explained that “the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, supported by the related Association, have always dealt with charity work in Italy and abroad, like the work we have done today in Taranto for the needy”.
Mr. Gadaleta added: “Also through this gesture of solidarity, we seek to live our lives following the principles of Christianity, just as Pope Francis recalled when he said that “if we have found the meaning of life in Jesus, we cannot be indifferent to someone who suffers, to someone who is sad!”
