Milan Church Concert Promotes Inclusion Ahead of Winter Paralympics
Days before athletes gather for the Winter Paralympics in northern Italy, a church concert in Milan highlighted a different kind of competition: the effort to build a more inclusive society. Inside the historic Sant’Antonio Abate, around 70 members of the Coro Terzo Tempo choir performed a pop inspired repertoire centered on unity, dignity, and participation for all.
The concert, titled Like Yeast in the Dough, drew on a Gospel image of transformation from within. Organizers explained that just as yeast quietly helps dough rise, small gestures of inclusion can gradually reshape communities. The performance formed part of the broader pastoral initiatives linked to the upcoming Winter Paralympics, which will place athletes with disabilities at the center of global attention.
Members of the choir traveled from Abbiategrasso, a town near Milan, bringing together teenagers, adults, and seniors. Their diverse composition mirrored the message they sought to convey. Songs in Italian and English, along with rhythms inspired by global traditions, reflected a commitment to openness and cultural exchange.
The Archdiocese of Milan has been preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic season by emphasizing Christian values tied to sport, including perseverance, solidarity, and respect. Church leaders say the Games are not simply international spectacles but opportunities to encourage reflection within local communities. Through parish programs, catechism groups, and sports initiatives, the archdiocese promotes environments where people with and without disabilities participate side by side.
Clergy involved in the initiative stress that inclusion must move beyond specialized programs. Organizing activities exclusively for people with disabilities, they argue, risks reinforcing separation. Instead, they advocate for shared experiences where everyone learns to adapt, cooperate, and recognize each other’s gifts.
In Italy, parish oratories play a central role in youth life. These after school spaces host sports, recreation, and faith formation. In the lead up to the Paralympics, discussions about accessibility and inclusion have become more frequent within these settings. Athletes, including Paralympians, have shared personal testimonies, encouraging young people to view differences not as barriers but as part of human diversity.
For the Coro Terzo Tempo, music serves as a bridge. Its motto celebrates unity, passion, freedom, and joy, values the choir believes are essential both in sport and daily life. By welcoming singers across generations and backgrounds, the group embodies the inclusive spirit it promotes.
As Milan prepares to welcome the world, initiatives like the Sant’Antonio concert demonstrate how faith communities are engaging the Olympic moment to foster dialogue and belonging. The message resonates beyond the stadiums: true victory lies not only in medals but in ensuring that everyone has a place in the common song.
