After the HIC SUM, a Beautiful Walk in Mercy
I remember with immense joy the time spent at the Misericordia di Castelnuovo Garfagnana
Sister Justina paints with touching and heartfelt strokes this slice of life in Mercy, to which spazio + spadoni led her, through the HIC SUM project. She belongs to the Congregation “Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus” (Nigerian Congregation). She started the HIC SUM project on February 13, 2020 at the Misericordia of Castelnuovo Garfagnana in the province of Lucca. It is a very small village, not really in the mountains but quite a bit higher than the Plain of Lucca, and there she became the sister of the whole community. She was welcomed as a gift from Misericordia and served mostly with the elderly.
Sister Justina begins to tell her story. I compared my journey in Mercy to the passage in Genesis 12 (vv. 1-3), “The Lord said to Abraham – Leave your country in the place that I will show you.”
At that time I was told by my Superior General to leave my country for a place I never dreamed of. I did not ask questions about who would take care of me, of the needs when I got there but I relied on Divine Providence.
Upon my arrival, the Misericordia leadership welcomed me warmly. They assigned me a comfortable apartment and guaranteed me everything I needed, by which I mean both spiritual and temporary needs. They took an interest in having a lady teach me Italian. A few days later I began my service at the Misericordia facility for the elderly.
In those days I did not know much about the big Misericordia family and could understand little because of my difficulties with the Italian language. But the things I was learning were the things I got to observe.
Mauro, who was the Governor of Misericordia at the time, is a God-fearing man, he is merciful and kind, he is a servant to all and trusts everyone. I still feel that today, here from Nigeria. The employees of the Association were selfless and very committed to their work.
The elderly were treated with love and respect. I never had the opportunity to witness any confrontation.
The hygienic conditions of the home for the elderly were excellent-I always congratulated all the workers there! They changed the napkins often, I never smelled any unpleasant odor in the elderly people’s apartments.
Encouraging was the spiritual life of the Misericordia family: they actively participated in all prayer times during Holy Week. I also had the opportunity to share with the Misericordia volunteers on Holy Easter that year. The Chapel door remained open to allow those who wished to do so, to adore the Blessed Sacrament.
Mauro would take the responsibility of personally taking me to the Church and bringing me home. He would take charge of my pharmaceutical expenses and make resources available to me for my needs. Mauro and spazio + spadoni were constantly in contact to coordinate.
Some points about my story
I am Justina Obiageli Udebunjo. I was born on December 20, 1955. I am the last child of the seven children of Lucy and Nathaniel Udebunjo from a village in the local government area of Anambra State in Nigeria in Africa.
Because I was born during the time of Christmas celebrations, I was called Obiageli which means: the child who comes to eat.
As a child, at the age of five, I went to morning Mass every day with my father. I didn’t really understand the meaning but I would listen to the story my Father would tell me as we went to church and as he took me to buy bread on our way back from church.
I would sit beside him and slowly enjoy the bread while my older brothers looked at me with envy. As soon as our father left the house to go to work, they would snatch the remaining bread from me and share it among themselves.
I was in the fourth grade of primary school when the Nigerian civil war started. I suffered several wounds from stray bullets. I thank God that I survived the war.
Spazio Spadoni’s HIC SUM project is sensitive to this issue and also turns its eyes to difficult situations concerning the abuse, violence, torture caused by armaments and interests, depravities, and injustices in the world!
Important dates
In 1982 I made my first profession of the three evangelical councils.
In 2017 I received my postgraduate degree in Education.
Two important milestones in my life and, especially at the level of the existential and/or spiritual dimension that were thus coming to fruition.
About my Congregation “Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus”
The Congregation of Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus was founded by Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walka, an English nun and member of the Irish Sisters of Charity.
She came to Nigeria at the invitation of Bishop Shanahan from blessed memory for help in training women. She opened several clinics and hospitals.
The congregation started with 4 members: 3 from Nigeria and one from Cameroon.
The youngest of the 4, Christiana, became the first Mother Superior.
The motto of our congregation is “Love and Service.” The sisters seek to follow the examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her humility, simplicity, zeal and absolute trust in Divine Providence.
The apostolate of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus consists of bearing witness to the Consecrated Life, helping to build up the local Church and participating in its pastoral activities.
The mission of our congregation is a ministry of transforming people through education, medical, social and pastoral work with special attention to the underprivileged, the sick, women, children and the disabled.
Today more than 1,000 Handmaids from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Kenya and Great Britain operate in this field. Our houses are also in Italy, the United States and Germany.
Our general house is in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria.
Our current superior general is Mother Germaine Ocansey from Ghana.