San Giovanni Nepomuceno Neumann

Until the year 2000, the population of Montespaccato, a suburban neighbourhood between the Via Aurelia and the Via Boccea, on the edge of the Raccordo Anulare, XIII Prefecture of the Western Sector of the Diocese of Rome, belonged to a single Parish, Santa Maria Janua Coeli, entrusted to the pastoral care of the priests of the Congregation of the Sons of Santa Maria Immacolata. In addition to the parish church in Piazza Cornelia, where the main pastoral activities took place, there was a chapel dedicated to Saint Rita, located in the street level of a building, in the highest part of the district, known as the monte. In the Chapel of Saint Rita, one Sunday Mass and one weekday Mass were celebrated. It was for a long time cared for by Father Raphael and a prayer group called the Cenacolo.On the occasion of the Holy Year, the then Pope, Blessed John Paul II, decided to establish a number of new parishes in Rome, and in August 2000, a doubling of parishes took place in Montespaccato from a division of the territory. Thus was born our Parish dedicated to St John Nepomucene Neumann and entrusted to the care of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.The first community of Redemptorist priests was made up of the parish priest, Father Danilo Bissacco, Father Carlo and Father Vito, who took it upon themselves to build from scratch all the pastoral activities typical of any parish: the Liturgy, Catechesis and Caritas, in the only room available at the time, the Santa Rita Chapel.The first task was to organise the catechesis, since already in the first year there were about a hundred enrolments for catechism. So Father Charles immediately set about organising a training course for pastoral workers, with the help of the Prefecture, in which a number of mothers, fathers and young people of goodwill participated who had given their willingness to commit themselves to the catechesis of the youngest children. A great help for catechism was given to us by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Pious Workers of the Immaculate Conception and some Redemptorist Student Brothers.Father Vito was involved in youth pastoral work and the oratory, bringing together the young people who attended the chapel.Father Danilo, besides being the parish priest, was also the Provincial Superior, so he had many commitments that often took him far from Rome, but on Sundays he was often present to welcome all the faithful at the entrance to the chapel to greet them and listen to them.The first year of the Parish was lived with the joy and enthusiasm typical of the beginning of every new adventure.