Marcello and Marianna serve in an internship with the Shalom Church, a congregation in the Italian Mennonite Church in Palermo, Sicily. Marcello and Marianna will serve as tranSenders with the mentoring of Pastor Giuseppe Arena and Rosanna Ingrao. Marcello is receiving advanced training in special education toward long-term bi-vocational work in pastoral ministry, and is working toward completion of a biblical and leadership training course. Marianna leads womens’ Bible studies and children’s ministry in the congregation. The couple recently welcomed their first child, son Elia.

VMMissions staff member Jason Rhodes Showalter met Marcello and Marianna during a visit to Sicily in 2022. VMMissions workers Shawn and Laura Green, serving in Termoli, Italy, serve as their local coaches, and they receive oversight coaching by VMMissions staff member Tom Yoder.