Italy’s First Readers’ Meeting Site Launched in Campobasso
Attended by 19 People
A Readers’ Meeting was held for the first time in Italy on June 17 at a member’s house in the City of Campobasso, Molise, about 200 km east of Rome. It was attended by 19 people.
In Italy, the members have voluntarily held a Readers’ Meeting occasionally in the past. But there were no Readers’ Meeting sites and no one actively propagated. Marcia Moreira, originally from Brazil and a local resident, who has been a follower of Seicho-No-Ie from before, wanted to hold a Readers’ Meeting. In response to her wish, Cleusa Westfal, a Regional Lecturer, who has her family root in Italy and now lives in Switzerland, visited Italy and offered her cooperation. Mrs. Moreira then decided to launch a Readers’ Meeting and held a gathering.
The Readers’ Meeting started at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Resident Ordained Minister in Europe) was dispatched there to provide guidance. In addition to Italians, there were people from Argentina, Ukraine and Brazil, who reside there. Most people did not understand English and many were first-timers. Rev. Otsuka gave a lecture in English on the theme, “What Is Seicho-No-Ie? What Does Seicho-No-Ie Teach?” Mrs. Moreira’s daughter served as an English-to-Italian interpreter. Rev. Otsuka explained Seicho-No-Ie’s fundamental teachings: only God-created perfect world exists; all phenomena are manifestations of only mind; and all religions emanate from one universal God. This was followed by a discussion meeting. The attendees talked in a warm and friendly atmosphere and shared their joy.
Mrs. Moreira commented, “My dream has come true. Thanks to the support of many people, the launching of a Readers’ Meeting materialized. I simply feel overjoyed and grateful.”
Remarks by Rev. Yuji Otsuka, Resident Ordained Minister in Europe
“Mrs. Moreira’s family members all became Holy Mission Fellowship members via Switzerland and began activities as a propagation site in Italy. It is quite significant that the Italian translation of the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines was distributed at the Readers’ Meeting for the first time. I hope that there will be more propagation sites in Italy.”