Riccardo Dimida tells us how he found his religious vocation as a priest through the grace of God, acting in him through small gestures.

It belongs to the Institute of the  Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary , a religious community—or association of faithful—that centers its spirituality on love and reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in profound communion with the Heart of Jesus. Although there are several communities with similar names in different countries, they all share common elements in their identity and charism.

Currently, all the young people in this community are studying in Rome at the  Pontifical University of the Holy Cross  (PUSC), thanks to funding from the CARF Foundation.

Riccardo was born on September 18, 1985, in Volterra, an ancient city of Etruscan origin located in the Tuscany region of Italy. He is currently in his second year of Philosophy, before beginning his bachelor’s degree in Theology next year. He shares his story through his testimony.

From a serene childhood to the discovery of a religious vocation

“I was born into a Catholic family that gave me a sound upbringing and an admirable example. My parents have always been morally upright, and they encouraged me to pursue a Catholic education. I grew up in a small town in Tuscany, enjoying a happy and carefree childhood.

After receiving Confirmation, I joined Catholic Action, where I remained until I was well into my 30s, organizing camps, pilgrimages, and leading groups of teenagers and young adults.

After high school, I went to university, and there I began to discover the world in all its breadth and diversity, something unknown to me as a small-town boy. University life can be very stimulating—sometimes even too stimulating—and, in fact, I expanded my social circles and friendships.

I participated in student representative groups and many other activities, some more academic than others. I say “more or less” because, amidst so many educational and personal development initiatives, there’s always some unexpected risk. So, in my early years, I spent little time studying. Instead, I devoted many hours to all kinds of activities.

I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 15, an instrument I’ve always loved. I’ve been volunteering since I was 17, and I played on my town’s basketball team from the age of 7 to 25. I also practiced swimming, athletics, indoor soccer, and hiking. I’ve always been drawn to learning languages ​​and learning about other cultures, and of course, meeting new people and experiencing new things.

Riccardo went to university and there began his ‘exploration’ of the world

“Amidst this vast array of interests and associated entertainment, I had the opportunity to experience many things. Unfortunately, not all of them were positive or uplifting: the parties, the friends, the concerts…”

The trips – which were very frequent – ​​gave me the opportunity to break the rules, to always step on the accelerator in the search for pleasure and strong emotions.

Those were very intense years at university, also because, at the same time, I never stopped attending Sunday Mass, participating in pilgrimages and prayer meetings, and collaborating with the diocesan organization of Catholic Action, where I even held organizational and leadership roles.

Obviously, what I struggled most was studying. All of this was possible thanks to the energy inherent in my early youth (I’m 39 now) and the enthusiasm for discovering the world and myself.

Inside me, everything was a great mix of good principles, though never truly explored.  I wanted the good of myself and others, but I also wanted to enjoy life’s pleasures, and I wanted all of that to happen to the fullest extent possible. It was as if I lived one life by day and another by night, trying not to leave anything unexperienced.

I remember that many times, despite returning home very late on a Saturday night (or very early on Sunday morning…), even with little sleep, I would still attend Sunday Mass. Anything could happen, but I couldn’t miss Mass; it was like a time slot I had to punch at all costs.

At one point, I realized that not everything was going well. I understood there was a “better way” to do things. I had faith, yes, but I didn’t fully live it. I remember a friend, with whom I shared much of my faith journey, making me reflect on the fact that abortion is never acceptable, while I was convinced that in certain cases it was.

With that realization, something ignited in me that has since functioned as a true paradigm for life: I understood that there were things that had to be fully accepted or not accepted at all.

“So I committed to finishing my  studies  and getting the most out of them. I started working as a waiter and giving private lessons in math and English to support myself during college.”

A search for meaning amidst studies and inner struggle

“After earning my bachelor’s degree, I started my master’s degree and won two scholarships that took me, first, to Antwerp (Belgium) for six months, and the following year, another six months to Mexico City, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

They were two important, intense, eventful experiences that involved me both intellectually and emotionally. I took away from Mexico a deep emotional scar that would resonate with me for many years to come.

Looking back, I realize that  it was a great battle I fought to fulfill my duty as a student abroad  without losing myself in the many occasions of debauchery, trying to make the light side of me prevail over the dark side.

In those final years, leading up to my master’s degree with the highest honors, I became much more aware of myself, of the world, and of the good and evil that inhabit it. My behavior, both internally and externally, was contrasting and conflicting, but I still tried to do good, to stay close to God, or at least to return to Him to ask for forgiveness, despite my frequent setbacks.

After graduating,  I started working as a receptionist in a hotel , and after a year, I decided to open a small business with other partners. We worked in the LED lighting, automation, and energy-saving sectors.

This initiative left a profound mark on me, as it required a huge commitment, enormous effort, and significant risks, including financial ones. Although it initially began with enthusiasm and drive—coinciding with the widespread use of LED lighting in Italy in those years—it soon turned into a whirlwind of difficulties and disappointments.

One of the founding partners, with whom I had a very close bond, even  died of leukemia . The topic of illness, and cancer in particular, also entered my family during those years and has not left us since. To this day, thank God, we continue to fight, experiencing miracle after miracle.

That period, from my master’s degree to my job at the company, was a source of tremendous physical and psychological stress for me. It was a very dark time, marked by a work environment that constantly placed me in critical situations, while I tried to relieve stress through toxic behaviors, both toward myself and in my relationships with others.

It’s true that a few years earlier  I had begun a serious process of conversion, but my nightlife was still present and hadn’t yet hit rock bottom.  I couldn’t sleep, I had lost weight, and I experienced everything in a deeply negative way.

Spiritual paths to your religious vocation

Over the years, on my spiritual journey, I distanced myself somewhat from Catholic Action  and spent some time with  Communion and Liberation . Later, I became more familiar with the Vetus Ordo Mass , which profoundly helped me live the liturgy and sacraments in a more serious and committed way.

Above all, it allowed me to delve deeper into the doctrinal aspect of the faith: into the truths we profess as Catholics and the principles that underpin our religion. It was a fundamental step in my life, as, on the one hand, it accentuated the volitional and demanding nature of my faith, but on the other, it laid the solid rational foundations upon which my adherence to it rested.

The breakthrough came when I hit rock bottom. I was in a deep professional and personal crisis: alone, defeated, sleepless, increasingly aggressive toward others and myself.

Changing the center of life

“Until then, my relationship with God was like an exchange: I did my duty, and He rewarded me. I had visited many shrines—Lourdes, the Holy Land, Montenegro—but God took a backseat, and I was the protagonist. Everything revolved around ‘my effort,’ ‘my merit.'”

In 2018, I found a good job that gave me stability and led me to seriously consider starting a family, fully aware of the difficulties this entails for a Catholic today.

The COVID years arrived, causing me much suffering and bitterness due to the way many people reacted: with fear, selfishness, and coldness. I lived under great stress and without a clear direction.

In 2021, I made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos with some friends. The sacredness of that place had a profound impact on me, so much so that my faith briefly shook. In September of that year, I went to Lourdes and prayed fervently to find a spiritual director. A month later, a nun took me to a priest from the Institute, and I finally found that long-awaited guide.

Consecration and new stage

In June 2022, I consecrated myself to the Virgin Mary as a lay person in the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Movement. The discernment continued, with difficulties, yes, but also with determination. Finally, in October 2023, I took a leave of absence from work, and in October 2024, I officially left my job. There are no more “signings” to mark.

Discernment continues, and, as with people, I believe we never fully understand ourselves, neither ourselves nor God.  Today, thanks to Providence, I am in Rome, living in a religious institute and studying at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

God’s grace acts even through the smallest gestures: a Rosary prayed half asleep, an impromptu pilgrimage, a donation. Only He knows how far that charity goes. And it’s better this way than continuing to clock in.

Thanks to the benefactors

I want to express my gratitude to all those I met along the way who, literally, saved me. Our Lady inevitably always led me to Jesus. A special thanks goes to the benefactors of the CARF Foundation, instruments of Providence in the formation of all of us, the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May God bless you always!