The Venerabile Confraternita di Misericordia di Stiava is a volunteer association that belongs to the Movimento delle Misericordie, founded in Florence in 1244 by Pietro da Verona, later Saint Peter Martyr. Today, Mercy associations are present in Italy and abroad, with more than 700 brotherhoods.
History
The Misericordia di Stiava was founded in 1908 at the initiative of the parish priest, Don Giannini. Thanks to him, a group of founding members was formed and together they drafted the Association’s Statute. Shortly afterwards, a stretcher cart was acquired, and the entire town soon contributed to the development of the Misericordia, while residents became involved by joining as members. In 1912, the headquarters near the Church of Stiava was purchased. Over the years, an outpatient clinic was established; these were the years of the First World War, but this did not discourage the brothers, who reached the hospitals of Pisa and Lucca in a horse-drawn cart, setting out early in the morning. In the 1920s, applications to join the Misericordia also came from nearby towns. In 1929, the first ambulance, “La Luisa”, was purchased, and relations began to develop with sister brotherhoods. Many wealthy people in Stiava helped the Misericordia through donations and offerings. During the Second World War, many economic and human resources became unavailable. The Misericordia worked to welcome displaced people from the city of Viareggio, which was under bombardment.
After the war, a new period of growth began for the Misericordia di Stiava through the expansion of the outpatient clinics, the creation of the women’s cycling platoon and various charity fairs. The Fratres group was founded in 1962, and in 1970 the festival for elderly people began, which is still held every September. The vehicle fleet acquired a community minibus and a hearse. The Misericordia provided assistance during the Polesine flood and the earthquakes in Irpinia and Friuli. The years passed, the Misericordia kept pace with the times, and a succession of presidents worked for the good of the Association and the town; in 1995, they supported the launch of the 118 emergency service with a medically equipped ambulance and by ensuring the presence of volunteers trained in emergency response. In 2006, new outpatient clinics with a primary care unit were inaugurated. The Misericordia di Stiava has always maintained relationships with other associations. In 2022, the project with spazio + spadoni began, and Sister Agnes was welcomed as part of the HIC SUM project.
Activities
- ASSISTANCE TO OTHERS
- ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ELDERLY PEOPLE
- AMBULANCE TRANSPORT OF INJURED AND SICK PEOPLE
- COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
- SOCIAL AND HEALTHCARE TRANSPORT
Contacts
Via Sotto la Chiesa 104- 55054 Stiava (LU)
TEL. 0584 92040