ECHOES FROM MY THREE-MONTH SABBATICAL by Sr. Maria Francesca Musumeci, SFP
“A journey within” is the title of the three-month sabbatical organized this year by the USMI (Union of the Major Superiors in Italy). This is one of the ministries that women’s consecrated life in Italy offers to the Sisters through a journey made of formation, ongoing formation (aggiornamento), human and spiritual direction. The year that just ended has been a year of grace for me: I celebrated my 25th jubilee with an immense gratitude to the Lord for his wonders, surrounded by the love of my family, the Sisters, the friends and of many people with whom I shared my life during the eight years spent at Pistoia. This past year has also been filled with grace because I was able to rejoice and thank the Lord for the many fruits: learnings, struggles, insights, but especially relationships. When I was told I would be transferred after many years of ministry in the Diocesan Charities I felt that it would be nice to have some “time off” before joining the new community and beginning a new ministry. This time would be devoted to looking within myself, put my life in order by re-focusing on the essential values, taking care of myself and especially letting myself be healed by God’s word and by contemplating Jesus’ face. We were 64 Sisters from 35 different Congregations, from all over the world: India, Philippines, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and, of course, Italy. We gathered as companions on the journey with the challenge – but also opportunity and richness – of our internationality and multiculturality. Most of all, we gathered as women who share the experience of following in the footsteps of Jesus in consecrated life and in sharing with the suffering poor in every part of our world. There were several topics in our education, deepening and sharing, in areas such as Scripture, consecrated life, self-knowledge, relationships, spirituality, discernment, prayer... in addition to current issues, such as dialogue with Islam and the Jewish world, and the challenges related to ethics and communications. All this offered me an opportunity to reflect and review my past, my present and help me be open for what is to come. As I reviewed my journey as believer and consecrated woman, I identified some interesting points that need to be refocused, grow, and heal....
There were also cultural events, such as the visit to the archeological site of ancient Ostia, to Assisi, the Quirinal building, the “Redemptoris Mater” Chapel…
Two were the most important moments of this journey: the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as an added grace, and the retreat. I was moved by the places, the scents, the colors, but especially by the different and various faces I saw. My visit in Palestine felt like a wonder, in the face of the incredible amount of people who live there together – more or less in tension – Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Orthodox, Armenians... At the same time, I felt puzzled when faced with the occupied territories, the miles of wall and barbed wire, the difference in the quality of life between Palestinians and Israelis, the numerous checkpoints, the adolescent soldiers, the decreasing number of Christians. This triggered many questions, along with an increasingly stronger prayer for peace, “Ask peace for Jerusalem.... let there be peace within her walls.” Finally, the retreat led by two Jesuits was the climax of the whole journey. The Lord wanted to encounter me as He did with Zaccheus, the leper, the sinner and the Pharisee. He found my wounds, but – as the merciful Samaritan – he continues to heal them with the wine of consolation and the oil of joy, so that I too can live out compassion and spread joy.
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