On the great day of the solemnity of St. Joseph, the new provincial direction of the Italy province officially took charge in Milan. During this great calamity and tragedy of the coronavirus (COVID19) which is affecting the whole world, in particular, Italy the Lombardy where we are present.
We are weak instruments for His great purpose. In this critical situation in which we live, we remembered very much the beginning of our foundation, where 86 years ago our founders started with a humble and simple style. We began our day with prayer and good wishes. Then, the day followed by an hour of adoration in which the sisters of the Milan community gathered to pray and to implore the blessings of God on Sr. Maria Antonia Rossi sr. Susila Antony Pillai, Sr. Rosella Locatelli, and Sr. Parboti Marandi. Even though Sr. Rosella Locatelli and Sr. Parboti Marandi were not present physically because they were physically absent due to the inability to move and travel restrictions and rules made by the government. We felt very much the absence of the old and new councillors. We remembered with gratitude the old council members who carried out their responsibility with generosity and dedication.
We, the new members of the council moved by joy as well as fear but, at the same time, we also recognized our unworthiness, but surrendering ourselves and trusting in the Lord who walks with us in every stage of the journey and who helps us to fulfill greater things.
We believe that whatever the Lord asks us He will do certainly great and wonderful things within and through us.
It was a tangible experience when sr. Maria Antonia and sr. Susila knelt in front of the altar, each sister placed her hands while singing in Latin Vieni Creator. The sisters invoked the blessings, His gifts, and discernment on us also remembering sr. Rosella and sr. Parboti so that we may carry out effectively the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us. Subsequently, to be in attune with the voice of the spirit to discern everything in the light of His Spirit. So we all moved near the tomb of our foundresses mother Dones and mother Igilda we prayed the Sub Tum Presidium also invoking the help of Mary and our foundresses.
We concluded, by remembering all our deceased sisters with gratitude and we interceded their help in this journey. We concluded the day by cutting the cake.
Sr. Mary Susila Antonypillai – Italy Province