MozambiqueOPERA M Forum: the riEvolution of the Works of Mercy
spazio + spadoni is a movement founded on a clear vision: to inspire acts of mercy and mission throughout the world by transforming the value of the Works of Mercy into a concrete, lived and shared experience. At a time when solidarity is more necessary than ever, our commitment is to create opportunities for encounter, formation and growth for communities, religious congregations and all those involved in pastoral ministry.
At the heart of this mission are the OPERA M Forum, initiatives conceived and promoted by the spazio + spadoni movement and organised in collaboration with the host diocese. These forums mark the beginning of a structured and long-term journey designed to reach every sector of the diocesan community, bringing the message and value of the Works of Mercy to a broad and diverse audience.
Dialogue, Formation and Sharing
The OPERA M Forum are two- or three-day events open to the entire community, with particular attention to interreligious dialogue, the participation of religious congregations and the involvement of everyone engaged in pastoral ministry. Their programme is designed to offer moments of reflection, personal testimonies, in-depth workshops and opportunities for dialogue, ensuring that the Works of Mercy are not merely understood as a concept, but embraced as a shared commitment to daily life.
The OPERA M Forum have already reached several dioceses in Italy and across different African countries, attracting large and enthusiastic participation. This response reflects a strong desire to live out faith through concrete actions, transforming mercy into meaningful acts that respond to the challenges of our time.
Join the Mission of spazio + spadoni
spazio + spadoni continues to promote the OPERA M Forum as a means of sowing mercy throughout the world, building an ever-growing network of people and communities committed to this mission. If you would like to become part of this journey, take part in a Forum or help spread the Works of Mercy, join us. Together, we can assess the feasibility, timing and resources needed to organise an event that promotes the riEvolution of the Works of Mercy and actively involves the entire local community. We are ready to work alongside you to create an experience of dialogue, formation and mission.
Forum List
Making Room for Reciprocity
| DATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| 6–11 September 2021 | Lucca – Italy |
Making Room for Courage
| DATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| 7–11 September 2022 | Lucca – Italy |
Making Room for the riEvolution of the Works of Mercy
| DATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| 15–17 September 2023 | Noto – Italy |
| 25–26 November 2023 | Cotonou – Benin |
| 1–2 December 2023 | Bobo-Dioulasso – Burkina Faso |
| 28–29 June 2024 | Bafia – Cameroon |
| 31 August – 1 September 2024 | Nairobi – Kenya |
| 18–20 September 2024 | Kisangani – Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 19 June 2025 | Lomé – Togo |
| 27–28 June 2025 | Bangui – Central African Republic |
| 19 July 2025 | Bossembélé – Central African Republic |
| 17 August 2025 | Manzini – eSwatini |
| 13–14 September 2025 | Mbarara – Uganda |
| 13 December 2025 | Bouar – Central African Republic |
| 22–23 January 2026 | Ambatondrazaka – Madagascar |
| 8 April 2026 | Ambatondrazaka – Madagascar |
Learn more about the spazio + spadoni Forum
faq
What are the OPERA M Forums?
The OPERA M Forum are diocesan gatherings dedicated to dialogue, formation and sharing. They were created to promote the riEvolution of the Works of Mercy, making them a concrete path, spiritually rooted and pastorally embraced.
The Forum is not a standalone event, but the beginning of an ongoing journey.
What is the main objective of the Forums?
The purpose of the OPERA M Forum is to launch a structured diocesan journey that enables the Works of Mercy to:
- be lived as a shared ecclesial way of life;
- permeate every area of pastoral ministry;
- become a common language shared by communities, parishes and different ecclesial realities.
The Forum helps the diocese move from recognising the value of the Works of Mercy to living them in everyday life.
Who promotes and supports the OPERA M Forums?
The OPERA M Forum:
- are born from the vision of spazio + spadoni;
- are supported by the movement through their planning, guidance and long-term development;
- are organised together with the host diocese, always respecting the local context.
The Forum is always the fruit of ecclesial collaboration, never an independent initiative.
Who are the Forums intended for?
The OPERA M Forum are open to the entire diocesan community, with the active participation of:
- priests
- men and women in consecrated life
- committed lay people
- pastoral workers
- educational institutions and associations
Where the local context allows, they also promote interreligious and social dialogue.
How long do the Forums last and how are they structured?
The Forum take place over two or three days and include:
- moments of listening and reflection
- testimonies of lived experiences
- in-depth workshops
- opportunities for community dialogue
The programme is designed to engage every part of the community and to make the Works of Mercy a practical reality in everyday life.
What should a Forum generate within the diocese?
An OPERA M Forum is designed to generate concrete and lasting outcomes, including:
- the establishment or strengthening of the Diocesan Office for the Works of Mercy, as a centre for coordination, formation and discernment;
- the launch of the Way of Mercy, a journey embraced by the community and guided by the 14 Works of Mercy;
- the widespread dissemination of the Works of Mercy throughout parishes through shared language, practical tools and trained people;
- a replicable model capable of inspiring other dioceses across the country.
The Forum opens a path that the diocese is called to embrace and develop over time.
What is the relationship between the Forums and parish life?
The Forums do not remain at central level.
They are designed to gradually reach parishes, so that the Works of Mercy may become:
- an ordinary pastoral style
- a way of reading reality
- a concrete path of local evangelisation
Have the Forums already been held in other contexts?
Yes.
The OPERA M Forums have already been experienced in several dioceses in Italy and in various African countries, with broad and motivated participation.
These experiences show the widespread desire for a faith embodied in works, capable of responding to the challenges of the present time.
What role does communication play in the Forum journey?
The experiences born from the Forums are also shared through MISSION, translated into more than 30 languages, in order to foster:
- dialogue between dioceses and territories
- the circulation of good practices
- a broad ecclesial and missionary dimension
Communication thus becomes an integral part of the work.
Is it possible to organize an OPERA M Forum in your own diocese?
Yes.
It is possible to begin a dialogue to assess feasibility, timing and resources together, with the aim of building a
Forum that involves local realities and accompanies the diocese in the riEvolution of the Works of Mercy.
spazio + spadoni is available to collaborate in discernment, planning and accompaniment.
Why are the Forums considered essential within OPERA M?
Because the Forums:
- open the way
- bring people into relationship
- generate stable pastoral structures
- make the Works of Mercy a shared ecclesial path
They are a tool for sowing the Works of Mercy over time, in a simple, concrete and profoundly evangelical way.