For the first time this year, midnight mass was not celebrated in the church of Green Park of Caivano. The decision was taken by the parish priest, Don Maurice Patriciello, who explained the reasons to the daily newspaper Avvenire: "There could have been some accident. I don't want anyone to get hurt, as a priest I have to protect everyone."
The climate of tension in the neighborhood, in fact, has been palpable for over a month, since the evictions of the houses illegally occupied by the Camorra began. Attendance at religious functions has drastically reduced: “Church attendance has more than halved”, says Patriciello, highlighting how the situation has especially affected the youngest. “The greatest pain is the children: many families no longer take them to the oratory or to catechism.”
A Christmas marked by sadness and concern for the future: “Thirty-six families were evicted because they had problems with the law, we are talking about criminal law,” the parish priest emphasized. In total, the families involved in the evictions were about 250. Don Maurice Patriciello reflects on the impact this story has had on the entire community: “As pastor of this very affected parish, I see that the entire community is suffering.”
Tensions reached their peak on November 28, when a massive deployment of over a thousand police officers, carabinieri and financial police intervened to carry out the evictions. Since then, the atmosphere in Parco Verde has become even more tense. Even the church, usually decorated for Christmas, has adopted a sober approach this year: “We didn't put the decorated tree or the flowers on the altar, leaving only the nativity scene. It's a sign of understanding towards those who had to leave their homes”, explained the parish priest.
In the neighborhood, once infamous as one of the largest drug dealing centers in Europe, drug sales have drastically decreased. However, this change has generated discontent among the clans, who see their interests threatened. “At least now there's no more of that stinky breath on your neck”, said Don Patriciello, recalling that “there were fourteen drug dealing points in such a small neighborhood, and everyone's life – children, teenagers, families – was conditioned by that oppressive presence.”
A different Christmas, therefore, for the Green Park, marked by a mixture of hope and pain, in a territory that continues to fight for its rebirth.
Article published on 27 December 2024 - 15:51
