Friday, March 29 2024

We have spoken with Father Federico Fabris, priest of the diocese of Padua
(Italy) since June 3, 2007, native of a small mountain village, Roana,
located in the tableau of Asiago (pre Alps). Since 11 of October of 2015 he
is the pastor of Camporovere, a small village of some 400 inhabitants.

He affirms that he is in a very small reality whose social fabric is not
very stimulating. Therefore, he says, “The ministry…must be completely
invented!”

He loves to dedicate himself as much as possible to people who suffer or
who find themselves living in special and difficult situations. He
dedicates quite a lot of time to reading and currently “follows” the
Italian National Team of Soccer for Amputees. He is a great soccer fan and
a Vicenza F.C. supporter.

Don Federico, you manage a Facebook page (

www.facebook.com/DonFedericoFabris/


), in which you share thoughts and reflections about Christian life.
What do you think of social media? Why can they be an appropriate
platform for speaking about God?

I believe that the social networks can be an instrument through which it is
possible to pass some fragment of good, of the Gospel, of faith. Now the
majority of people use them, accustomed more all the time to things that
are immediate, instantaneous, and quick: there is the possibility, in a few
seconds, to reach thousands of people. Like every object and every
instrument, the social platforms can be used for good or for evil. But also
to read just one sentence expressing a profound thought can give a
different tone to the day to someone who is perhaps always in his office…

But if these media substitute dialogue or relationships, they obviously
cease to have a positive function. Right balance in their use gives
equilibrium to life and to the faith.

These “virtual squares” can be apt for talking about God because Jesus
Himself to make God known used a language that was simple, popular. The
language of the social media can be it!


In what way can the internet be put at the service of the good?

Can you give us some examples from your experience?

Internet can be an optimum and effective medium to do good, definitely.
Besides making communication faster (just a click is enough!), it is
possible to do many activities and share positive acts, search for
information, be helped to widen one’s own knowledge and one’s own culture…

For me it is a useful instrument for comparing myself with ways of faith of
other dioceses, of other countries; to find out about events and
suggestions about some topic, some document…It helps me to stay “within the
world”, not as a spectator, but as a protagonist, who tries to do his best
on his part.


In one of the articles found on your page, you take on the delicate
subject of homosexuality. We at Family and Media have
recommended to our readers Same Sex Attraction: A Parent’s Guide by John Francis Harvey,
a book which proposes to support those who have homosexual tendencies
and want to live in the love of God, walking in the light of the
Gospel, being tuned with the doctrine of the Church, helpinh them to
reach full happiness. You cite another book,

Homosexuality Against the Current – Living according to the Church
and Being Happy

, by Philippe Ariño. Why?

I love to recommend books: they can enrich yourself, helping to discover
and know better reality or situations that you aren’t aware of, or are
known perhaps superficially or only by hearsay. This issue too is treated
with respect and prudence, avoiding easy conclusions, as unfortunately
happens at times.

That is why I recommend the book: because it is a useful instrument for
“understanding something more” about a subject that these days demands
reflecting and evaluating many situations that sometimes hide suffering and
weariness.


What are the subjects that your page takes on to the greatest degree
and why?

In working on my page I don’t follow a particular guide of subjects. My
objective is to help people to think, to make the reader reflect. Some
topics are suggested by people, or by their difficulties; others can emerge
after having lived a certain experience to share, from debate; others come
from articles that I read in the papers…

In any case, I am not interested in dealing with trivial arguments: I want
them to be in line with values, the faith, the most profound and difficult
questions that people ask themselves. That’s why I search for and accept
input of laypeople, young people, mothers and fathers, to write a few
lines…


We know that you are the author of some books…What do you like to write
about?

For now I have worked on two books.

The first, written together with four other brother priests of the diocese
of Padua, aims to remember our dear friend Michele Dal Bianco, who rose to
heaven the past 13 of February of 2015, due to a brain tumor, after 33
months of fighting against the disease. The title is Nothing is Impossible and it is like a small Gospel of our times
(so it has been defined). We wanted to tell about our experience with a
fellow who was very conscious of what was happening to him, knew how to
live with faith and courage, and has given us a very powerful testimony!

The second is called Your Church and is a collection of
reflections that I have put together asking young people and parents how
they dream about the Church. From their contributions have come
reflections, which I thought to spread in a small “textbook” and that – so
I wish! – can contribute to making all the beauty of the Church come forth:
a Church that is true, joyful, and that does not tire of proposing the
Gospel…this Gospel for which it is worthwhile to bet one’s own existence!

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