The communities of Casa Nazareth, Porta S. Giacomo, Casa Betania, Casa S. Elisabetta and Casa S. Chiara

The communities of Casa S. Francesco, Perfetta Letizia, Casa Schervier and Casa S. Antonio

Fr. Antonello Fanelli, ofm conv presents a reflection on Pope Francis' Laudato sìThe communities of the Italian area experienced a weekend of Continuous Membership Development. The communities of Casa Nazareth, Porta S. Giacomo, Casa Betania, Casa S. Elisabetta and Casa S. Chiara gathered from January 24th to 26th in Padua. The four communities of the Rome area, Casa S. Francesco, Perfetta Letizia, Casa Schervier and Casa S. Antonio, gathered from January 31st to February 2nd in Casetta Nova. The meetings were characterized by the joy of getting together and having among us Sr. Licia Mazzia and Sr. Wilma Molinari.

Teamwork, PaduaThanks to the report of Friar Antonello Fanelli, OFMConv, we deeply explored some excerpts of the second chapter of Pope Francis’ Ludato Si (The Gospel of the Creation), closely linked to our Chapter Direction and First Call.
Together, we talked about how to make our commitment tangible, and we found ourselves aligned in relation to acting in a conscious way to choose new lifestyles, promote ecological interactions, take care to develop a contemplative outlook of reality and revise some criteria in going shopping. We are grateful for what we learned and we are happy to share some of our comments with you.

Communion of graces received“I am grateful to God for the Membership Development weekend in Padua, which has been a family meeting for me, simple but precious. It was great to stop and think and to discuss thorny and important issues that affect everyone’s life. One of the concepts that caught my attention was that the Earth is not one’s private property.
I feel connected to God and His creation and there I find my own place. I feel in my heart anew the call for the responsibility to take care of others and of everything that surrounds me -- from caring about personal relationships with people to caring about the goods of creation.
We often hear Mother Earth’s cry of pain . Therefore, the commitment that I make is to listen to that voice and to invite other people to do the same.”  Sr. Barbara Torregrossa

Sr. Laura Cantello during the final reflection“I thank God for giving me an opportunity to join the Sisters of the Rome area to share the knowledge that we gained through a detailed study of “Laudato Si,” and the speeches of Sr. Wilma and Sr. Licia. From the beginning, we felt the joy of communion and exchange, culminating in the final prayer, where, through the symbol of a basketfull of fruits, we were invited to share the graces we received.

Final ritualPersonally, I started with the confirmation that everything can be experienced anew if enlightened by our Charism. For this reason, it is important to cherish relationships, the place where we live, and all of the little everyday things. Everything and everyone needs to experience the healing of their wounds. May the love of God, through our Charism, touch the hearts of many brothers and sisters.” Sr. Antonietta Urdì

“The lens through which I have seen these days was enjoyment -- to enjoy every single moment to the fullest. Twenty-five days before leaving for the Philippines, I can say that I could not have hoped for a better preparation! The presence of God among us, the passion we each felt for the charism of Mother Frances, made it possible for food to come out of our beloved earth. I hold on to the symbolic image of a mushroom that reminds me of home; HOME that in these days has been accompanied by the now popular adjective, COMMON.

A group moment, RomeI am happy for the certainty of this common house whose perimeter is the world and whose pillars are global interconnection, solidarity inclusion, integral ecology... all expressions that want express how precious and challenging it is to know each other in a close relationship typical of a home.”  Sr. Jenny Favarin

“I hold the Continuous Membership Development weekend in my soul in three words: Beauty-Affection-Care. This is a tangible expression of RELATIONSHIP with the Creator and the Creation.

Celebrating the 80th birthday of Sr. Beata NigroI am united to God in Creative Beauty, through a contemplative gaze on every creature towards which I am called to nurture affection and care.
I feel the word AFFECTION because it makes the ‘Collection’s Prayer of Mother Frances’ Mass resound in me when she says to “serve the Lord with AFFECTIONATE commitment in our brothers and sisters”.

CONTEMPLATION
Another look...
In the fleeting and scattered present.
A look beyond...
What I see.
A rush of the heart
To find that secret
Yet revealed print
Indelible sign of loving hand,
Subtle echo of the Eternal Word
Which, pronounced,
Becomes a creature
Over time
And shows, in the eyes of the heart
The divine Beauty
Of its Creator.”
[Sr. Tina Ventimiglia]

 Sr. Michela Refatto, Sfp

Published : April 23, 2020