Nomadelfia
A community inspired by the evangelical ideals of brotherhood
Nomadelfia is a community of practicing Catholics who seek to live adopting a lifestyle inspired by what is reported in the Acts of the Apostles and similar to the experience of kibbutzim or phalansteries. The community is made up of families and unmarried laypeople who seek to live according to Christian principles and to make social life more just and equitable. The name "Nomadelfia" derives from "We, Mother of the Son", which expresses devotion to the Madonna and her motherhood.
The founder, Don Zeno Saltini, born into a wealthy farming family in Carpi, grew up amidst Catholic and Socialist unrest. Ordained a priest in 1931, he gathered the first street children in the parish of San Giacomo Roncole, in the province of Modena. During World War II, the community dedicated itself to welcoming political and Jewish refugees.
Nomadelfia is based on sharing goods and the elimination of money as a means of exchange. Nomadelfi who earn income outside the community contribute it to the community, which then provides each person with the goods they need. In this way, there are no disabled or elderly people assisted only by their families but by the entire community itself.
What it's like to live in Nomadelfia
Adoption of a lifestyle inspired by fraternal ideals
"Nomadelfi" are those who, over the age of 21, freely decide to join the model of life defined as the "proposal", which aims for a return to the "Church of origins". In Nomadelfia, life is organized so that families are the primary cell of the community, where adults, married and unmarried, act as parents not only to their own children but also to the children of others, the children of no one. Thus, the so-called "vocational mothers" are born - women who renounce marriage to live motherhood in complete chastity: mothers in families with numerous children of all ages.
Education and training
Compulsory education for children and adolescents is provided by community members throughout the year, while state exams are taken by them as "private candidates". Educational objectives are based on moral and religious education, but also on learning practical activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, and woodworking.
Work and activities
In the community, every adult is required to perform a work activity that contributes to the well-being of the entire community. Men mainly deal with agriculture and animal care, while women take care of children and manage households. In addition, there are also artistic activities, such as the production of ceramic objects and the creation of paintings and tapestries.
Nomadelfia today
Nomadelfia is located in the municipality of Grosseto and has about 300 members, with an average age of 30 years. The community also hosts political refugees from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, who are welcomed and integrated into the community.
In recent years, Nomadelfia has opened up to the outside world, organizing cultural events and promoting its activities through its website and social media. Moreover, it has collaborated with various public institutions, such as schools and universities, to promote its values and raise awareness in society about the importance of sharing goods.
Nomadelfia represents a unique experience in the Italian and global panorama, based on sharing goods and solidarity among people. The community has demonstrated that it is possible to live together in harmony in a world where competition and individualism seem to prevail.
