Social weeks, at Sarlux a Mass is held to celebrate the dignity of work
The safety helmet at the foot of the altar, the voices of the choir, the notes of the organ,
the scent of incense wafting from the thurible,
the emotion of so many workers – believers and non-believers –and that great crucifix, behind the canteen,
framed by the smoke stacks of the Sarlux plant.
Images of a historic event, as was the Mass officiated by Monsignor Arrigo Miglio,
Bishop of Cagliari, in the Sarroch industrial area on Sunday 29 October,
on conclusion of the 48th Social Week of the Italian Catholics.
The Social Week
A moment of reflection, dedicated to the ‘work we want: free, creative, participative and with solidarity’.
But also a crucible where new proposals are born to present to Government, project ideas inspired
by the good practices generated by the ‘searchers for work’ throughout Italy.
Perhaps that is why the event closing the social week, organised by the Italian Bishops’ Conference,
the Holy Mass preceding the Angelus of the Pope, broadcast live on national TV
was held in one of the main production areas of Sardinia, the Sarlux site at Sarroch.
An honour
‘For us it was an honour to be chosen to host this great event’, said the Chairman of Sarlux, Francesco Marini,
speaking during the Rai Uno programme A Sua Immagine, on Saturday 28 October, again broadcast live from the Refinery.
The celebration
On Sunday 29 October, the Mass was held in a great shed of the industrial site
which the Sarlux staff managed to transform into a huge church.
Shadowed by the warehouse, with its tall shelves holding spare parts,
just a short distance from the sea and next to the round tanks area,
400 blue chairs were set up facing a stage.
The altar – measuring 10m x 6m – was embellished by three works created for the occasion by the Cemis firm,
one of the many making up the industrial community of Sarroch.
The crucifix stood on high, some three m above the stage, the altar and the lectern, it too in oxidised Cor-ten steel,
marked by the image of the ship, symbolising the Church sailing on the waves, right there,
just a few dozen metres from the Sarlux piers and the moored oil tankers.
The workers
The message of love and hope delivered by Bishop Miglio was directed above all to the ‘hosts’,
the workers on the industrial site, testimonials of work which exists and continues to generate wealth for the territory.
But that is not the case in many other areas of Sardinia, the Bishop remarked, paying great attention as ever to social themes.
‘Starting from good practices we must strive to create work, but as we are well aware in our region,
there are all too many unemployed’ he reminded those present during his sermon facing the audience of workers,
many of whom were clearly moved.
Amongst them seated in the front row, was the Saras CEO Massimo Moratti.
Two days of direct TV broadcasts
Apart from the Eucharistic celebration, the Sarlux industrial site for two days running
became the site of the TV show A Sua Immagine, broadcast on Saturday at 1700 hrs and on Sunday at 10.30,
before the Mass and the Angelus from St. Peter’s.
The RAI filming crew and the programme editors, Laura Misiti and Gianni Epifani,
worked for about four days side by side with Sarlux staff, fascinated by this industrial site on the seashore.
