English 
In 1962, a group of young people began their formative journey in the Novitiate at Boschetto: a group that, over time, lost some unity, but that, while distinguishing itself from the differences in origin, habits, culture, etc., always walked in communion and missionary passion.
The eldest of the group, skilled and always ready to work, a mark of her Sardinian origins, from Giovanna, her baptismal name, to Profession she became Sr. Lidia, like the woman who, with her heart open to the Gospel, welcomed Paul and the disciples into her home.
And the heart of Sr. Lidia is always an open heart and ready to welcome, without limits, the requests and needs of others, first in Italy and then in her beloved Bangladesh.
In the group, there are those who can testify to having had in Sr. Lidia, from the first days of the Novitiate, a sure and expert hand in teaching housework and, above all, the availability to the dispositions that the young novices often struggled to accept and carry out.
Sr. Lidia hoped to realize her dream of the mission immediately, but her fragile health seemed to be an obstacle to her desire. However, she accepted, serene and ready, the various assignments in the communities in Italy for the various services in which she could always demonstrate her generosity and ability.
Finally, her joy exploded upon receiving the assignment and, on October 30, 1973, she arrived in Bangladesh where she immediately felt at home, learned the language and immersed herself in a new world, but one that seemed to her to have always known. One day she wrote, “On a mission there is a “special” Lord, not because He is different, but because you are given the courage to do things that you would never do in Italy! In Bangladesh, I understood the truth of the Gospel in a new way. Jesus is often surrounded by crowds, as is true for me every day: feeling his compassion for this flock of people and not being able to speak out of respect for their religion”.
To a friend she describes her greatest passion: “Living in the leper colony of Boldipukur: my work is carried out mainly among the lepers of the dispensary and in a clinic for children, an activity that more than any other has given me the opportunity to meet the Muslim families that make up almost the entire country. It was very important for me; I understood that our presence among them was fundamental. Treating Christians and Muslims without distinction meant giving a strong testimony of love without barriers or differences. I visited all the Christian and Muslim families, this was for me a great missionary commitment that I had to leave when I was transferred to Dhaka, the capital, to help in the formation of the young Bengali women who asked to follow Jesus on the path of the mission”
Despite the inevitable differences and difficulties due to a state religion and therefore the impossibility of directly communicating the Gospel, Sr. Lidia does not stop. She firmly assures: “Often, however, it is the Muslims themselves who question and ask why we are not married, an indispensable choice for their mentality, my answer is simple: “Because I love you and in this way I am free to help you full time”. Even in the face of fraternal forgiveness, they are immensely surprised. The law is still at an eye for an eye! Only in Jesus the gift of the gift is explained, a Jesus who died and rose again for our love”.
Then comes the obedience of the return. In March 2002, Sr. Lidia returns to the Italian Province where she is entrusted with the task of Community leader in various Houses, a task that Sr. Lidia continues to live with the same missionary dedication given to her ever beloved Bangladesh and despite the first negative signs of health.
Her heart begins to give serious alarm, despite a critical surgical operation and treatment; it seems that it does not want to improve. Sr. Lidia accepts the suffering, the hospital recoveries and the distance from the Community, with such serenity, courage and abandonment as to amaze even the health personnel and the other patients. The hope of all the sisters is great, almost as if they want to tear from the Lord, whom Sr. Lidia has loved and witnessed so much, the grace of healing. However, she is well aware of the situation; she knows that now her earthly journey is taking its last steps towards heaven. On the afternoon of June 2, she died in hospital to be welcomed into the Paradise of the blessed, into the arms of Christ, who had just ascended to Heaven.
Sr. Paola Vizzotto, General Direction community
