The Church of the Holy Family represents the lively and fresh point of reference of the community that resides in one of the many neighborhoods of the coastal city of San Benedetto del Tronto, namely the Ragnola neighborhoodThe commitment of those who are part of the community is not strictly reserved to practicing believers only. But the Church of the Holy Family It also teaches sports, solidarity and healthy competitionWorth mentioning is his 50th birthday this year.
The history of the Holy Family Church
The Church of the Holy Family dates back to the second half of the twentieth century. In particular, the construction of the entire building dates back to 1965. Specifically, it presents a rectangular plan, with a weekday chapel located to the side. It also includes a polygonal baptistery located to the west, and the presbytery, also polygonal, located to the north. Furthermore, the church is raised above the external space thanks to a three-step staircase. While the transition between interior and exterior is embodied in the covered space of the portico which, in addition to protecting the entrance portal, also extends laterally. Then, the the facade is made of brick, marked by a dense sequence of pilasters with a large vertical window with a perforated grid at the center, concluded by a triangular tympanum composed of vertical ribs and a frame. Finally, of great importance inside are two recent artistic stained glass windows weighing 250 kg each, made by the master glassmakers of “Caron Artistiche” in Vicenza.
The footprint of Monsignor Radicioni
But the attention to the city of San Benedetto del Tronto is also due to another beloved priest, in addition to Monsignor Francesco Sciocchetti, the hero-curate who gave a notable boost to the economic and social growth of the city. This is Bishop Monsignor Vincenzo Radicioni, originally from Ancona. In fact, he has devoted particular attention to the promotion of the largest diocesan center, San Benedetto del Tronto, which has seen a strong population growth in recent decades. And in this city he also established new parishes, including the Church of the Holy Family itself.
The parish priests who made the Holy Family Church great
However, there are other parish priests whose parish experience is particularly connected to the Church of Ragnola and its community. Among these: Don Mario De Angelis, the first parish priest of the Ragnola neighborhood, a young priest who in 1969 found himself with an unfinished building and a neighborhood to transform into a community. His was the idea of creating the mosaic in the apse of the Church of the Holy Family. As well as Don Osvaldo Cataldi He left his mark with several material works dedicated to the Holy Family: the renovation of the chapel, the construction of the high altar, the renovation of the presbytery, the insertion of fifteen panels of the Stations of the Cross by the artist Ubaldo Ferretti, and the painting of the church. He also completed the metal grille separating the presbytery from the sacristy.
Not just prayer: the “Ragnoliade”
Within the Holy Family Church, precisely in the parish field, the “Ragnoliad", There recreational sports event longest-running in the neighborhood, for kids aged 6 to 14, founded in 1985. This sporting event had the aim at the time to take young people off the streets and bring them closer to sportToday, it aims to distance children from tablets, cell phones, and video games. In essence, it is an example of collaboration and solidarity between families, institutions, and volunteers who work together. for training and growth aimed at sporting spiritIn short, a sort of mini Olympics held in July and August. And during the fifteen days of the event, young athletes test themselves and compete in sprinting, long jump, relay, bocce, men's soccer, and women's volleyball. All in the spirit of friendship, fun, entertainment, and healthy competition.
Thanks for the cover image: Patrizia Cicconi
