My HIC SUM at the Misericordia of Adrano
HIC SUM: HERE I AM! My experience at the Adrano Fraternity of Mercy
I am about to conclude the mission entrusted to me here in Adrano. So, I turn to you, my dearest Reverend Mother General and Council, thank you for your moral and spiritual support and for your trust that has allowed me to live our Charism in a different way.
I am also very grateful to you Sister Esther, the Delegate, and to all of you counselors of the Madagascar Delegation for choosing me to live this mission, which has enriched my spiritual background and given me more than motivation to collaborate with you for the good of our Religious Family. Thank you!
At first, when Sister Delegate told me about this experience, my first reaction was “rejection.” I had various excuses: my health condition, my responsibilities, my not being able to…. I wondered why to choose me instead of another nun…. Several times I refused, until, by God’s grace, I had the courage to say, “Here I am, Lord, your will be done.” This decision was made for the benefit of vulnerable people entrusted to the care of the congregation.
So this “yes” asked me for commitments: to “react and leave with God’s grace,” and I knew it would not be easy. I would face sacrifices, but these sacrifices would bear fruit for the mission in Madagascar, for the Congregation and especially for God’s forgotten and marginalized children in society.
I was strongly convinced of this, but even so, my worries had not yet vanished: traveling alone, speaking in Italian, living far from the community…. So, I dedicated all my prayer intentions to this new mission of mine and God offered me a solution: the delegate informed me that she would leave with me and stay with me for two months in Italy. This encouraged me so much.
The difficulties
I began to learn Italian, but I had not yet had the courage to practice it with my fellow sisters, who speak Italian. Only when I arrived at the Generalate in Rome did I begin to mumble a few words in Italian. I had the feeling that I was not up to it, because my comprehension skills were limited and my Italian vocabulary seemed insufficient.
I was struggling to follow conversations and find the right words. Although Mother General and Sister Esther always encouraged me, it was really difficult for me to express myself.
These difficulties initially made my integration into the “Fraternity of Mercy” in Adrano difficult: expressing myself was a pain for me and I preferred to be alone. When I came home, I always had a headache. But little by little, especially with God’s grace, my tongue loosened up and I found the courage to express myself in my own way.
My experience in Misericordia
The warm welcome from the team helped me a lot to have confidence in active collaboration.
Within two days of our arrival, we were immediately sent on transport with the young people from the civil service. The first day seemed almost like a sightseeing trip or visiting a new place, because I was not familiar with their activities and service.
Driven by my curiosity, I began, then, to observe the activities of the young volunteers: welcoming patients with respect, moral support, accompaniment… From the very first shift, I wished to continue participating in all this with great pleasure. I felt blocked by the Italian language problem, but I was able to catch up thanks to the gestures, smiles and the few words I knew. Over time I was able to cultivate a good relationship with all the volunteers and even the patients.
Working with the young volunteers taught me a lot and I benefited from learning by observing some of their gestures in their caring activities. Day by day, I felt myself improving and was also able to participate in outdoor health care activities at various events. My results were also getting better and better thanks to the “first aid” training organized by “Misericordia.”
God’s Mercy is in action…Always!
“God’s Mercy is in action…Always!” Luigi Spadoni, the founder of spazio + spadoni, always uses this phrase to encourage the team in their mission. It is from this phrase that we draw all the strength to give ourselves, through the services required every day: wherever we are, we must be witnesses of the Merciful God, witnesses of God’s love.
This experience within “Mercy” has given me the opportunity to enrich the way of living the Charism of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa (cf. “Nature and Purpose of the Institute” art 4).
For the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa, the work of mercy represents a true refuge for the marginalized. Our goal is that our efforts bring happiness, fulfillment and progress to all, helping to build a better world. All this requires that we live deeply the spiritual life, which must be manifested through willingness, readiness to give ourselves to others, generosity and self-education to possess more and more skills. All our intentions must be directed toward good for others: there must be no selfishness, we must always seek to give others a life that is “worthy.”
I feel small compared to the graces I have received. I have done little, but at the end of my experience I can say that Merciful God is great. I have, in fact, been able to accomplish all that I needed to. I am overjoyed, however, because the Good Lord has given me the opportunity to enjoy together with other people, in a country new to me, His wonders. It was unimaginable for me to find joy, living far away from my sisters; but, the Lord is always near me to console me, to encourage me and He sent me so many people who welcomed me, helped me with so much affection and shared with me the joys and sufferings.
Thank you Lord, with your immense grace I had the opportunity to serve others by spreading YOUR LOVE. I thank, also, Luigi Spadoni who trusted in our Congregation and invited us to live this experience and enrich ourselves, also spiritually.
I would like to express again my gratitude to Don Pietro Strano and his family, who hosted me during these six months. I have never lacked anything, God bless you. Likewise, I thank the team of the Adrano “Misericordia” led by Governor Pietro Branchina and his staff. You are the heart of my experiences in the fraternity, trainings and services. I feel too pampered by all of you and I am very proud of you. To thank you I can only promise you my prayers. To all of you and all the people in Adrano whom I got to know. I am very grateful for your kindness, your sympathy, your generosity. May God protect and reward you!
Sister Yolande – Sacred Heart of Jesus Sisters of Ragusa
Images
- spazio + spadoni
- Digitally created image