In 1937 he began attending the local school and his teachers, Clotilde Selmi and the catechist Antoinette Maffei, noted his desire to know and love Jesus. He was admitted to receive his First Communion almost at once because he was among the better prepared children and eager to do so. This took place on 16 June 1938, on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Rolando changed after that event: while remaining amiable and energetic he became more mature and responsible, a change which was accentuated after receiving his Confirmation on 24 June 1940 from the Bishop of Reggio Emilia Eduardo Brettoni.
