English 
Peace, serenity, discretion, hard work … these are some traits of sr. Angela Cavenaghi, as some of the sisters who knew her in the mission remember her; woman and missionary who spent her life with love and silent dedication, who returned to the house of the Father in the evening of Holy Saturday, March 30th, while we were preparing the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.
Sr. Angela would have completed 96 years on April 23rd; she was born in 1928 at Cernusco sul Naviglio, in the province and diocese of Milan.
She joined the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate in 1949, made her first profession on 25 March 1952 and obtained the diploma in nursing; in 1954 she was asked to work in the administration of the PIME missionary publications. In 1958 she left for Bangladesh where she was assigned and where she made her final profession on 17 February 1959.
In 1971 she attended the leprosy course at Fontilles, in Spain. Back to Dhanjury, the leprosy colony where she served the patients for more than 30 years, she continued her service with dedication and love. In 1995 she was transferred to Khulna where, dedicating herself again to leprosy patients, she remained till 2008 when she went back to Italy where she remained for health problems.
The sisters describe her as an example to follow in her discretion and in her desire not to be noticed but always serving and working silently, with energy, with strength as long as her strength allows! “She worked without measuring – one sister says – without stopping, like an ant, she was always busy with something to do!”
She knew how to keep good relationships with everybody and with her mild and understanding character she knew how to forgive and excuse others, trying not to fuel clashes or arguments.
“She would prefer a simple relationship – the sisters of Bangladesh are telling – and was very gentle and reserved, ready to forgive others, very understanding. She loved people … she had always a nice way of speaking and relate to others”.
Sr. Angela spent her life donated to the hansenian patients, curing their wounds, cleaning their sores, offering comfort and hope with a smile and industrious hands.
She spent her last years in the community of St. Joseph, Monza. Till her health allowed her, she helped in the little house cores. The life of sr. Angela gives us an example of humility and untiring missionary passion realized in curing the sufferings and in the daily attentive, serene relationship with everyone. Sr. Angela, guide our journey and inspire us to offer ourselves to our mission with fervour!
La Redazione
