The theme for today is Community.
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| Washing at Roverno |
Our day began with reflective prayer entitled: “Building
Community Communion”. The morning session was facilitated by Sr. Máire
O’Byrne which was extremely informative, encouraging and uplifting. It focused
on Community in the light of the Constitutions.
Today in the world the biggest problem is the break
down in community. At present, in many areas, our communities are smaller in
number, older and maybe not in as much direct contact with the young.
Article 36 of the Constitutions reminds us that the
Blessed Trinity is the foundation of our Community. Our first ministry is who we are. Giving
witness by our way of life and how we live with each other.
Sr. Máire reminded us that no community is perfect not
even the first community in Mornese. In the first community of Mornese some of
the sisters were older than Sr. Mary Mazzarello, some were friends, some pupils
and lay teachers. Petronilla was a friend and supporter of Mary Mazzarello. Felicina
was her blood sister and soul friend. She was also the first novice mistress
and opened many new houses. Assunta was contemplative though illiterate.
Enrichetta was known as Mother Assistant and was vicar general for several
years.
Community moments are very important to build any
community like Liturgical feasts, celebrated with joy and happiness. “Where
there is true charity the heart asks nothing more”
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| Mount Tobico |
According to our constitutions (50), these three
aspects are fundamental for community living: Respect, Esteem, and
Understanding for each other.
During the Mass we prayed for all our communities
remembering each sister and her ministry.
At two o’clock most of the group set off in glorious
sunshine for the Roverno River. This was where Sr. Mary Mazzarello, the Sisters
and the girls along with the villagers went to do the big wash in the river.
This was also a social event for all, where they worked, prayed, cooked polenta
and had fun while the clothes dried on the bushes.
Here too we had a threefold ritual to celebrate
community.
v We
washed each other’s hands for the hurts we caused others in community.
v We dropped
a symbol in the river as a sign of letting go of the hurts we received in
community.
v We
shared a snack with those present to build community.
We united in spirit with the group who could not walk
to Roverno and were gathered at the Well in the Collegio and with our provinces.
While returning home from the Roverno a local man
drove past on a tractor. As the last group walked along they found that the tractor was now in the ditch and the man
collapsed on the driver’s seat. Sr. Edna Mary went to the nearest house to look
for help. The man there informed the
family and phoned for an ambulance. In the meantime the Sisters tried to assist
the man by raising his head and placing him in a comfortable position. At this
point he was unconscious.
After about twenty minutes his wife arrived with a
medical kit. She asked if any Sister could give him an injection while she gave
him some insulin. Sr. Mary Alexander gave him the injection and he regained a
little consciousness. Soon the ambulance arrived and more family members and he
was taken to hospital with what turned out to be a very severe allergic
reaction to a bee sting.
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| The well at the Collegio |
The wife and family of Claudio were very grateful for
the assistance of the Sisters, which saved his life. We consider this as an intervention of our dear Mother
Mary Mazzarello and we implore her to restore Claudio to full health if it be
God’s will.
At seven o’clock we gathered for a presentation by Sr.
Rena from the Canadian province. Sister told us there are 28 Sisters in her
province, all of whom multitask.Sr. Rena told us all about a new house they opened
eleven months ago in Cornwall, Ontario.
This was another very prayerful and meaningful day for
all of us on Project Mornese.
