“ . . . a thousand ways to live our charism and share the gift of healing!”
Sr. Maria Francesca Musumeci, SFP Our family is preparing for the great event of our International Conference, “Healing Gift: Yesterday, Today and Beyond.” As the Italian Area we devoted our Assembly to gather, reflect, and share our experiences about the “healing gift.” We gathered in Vermicino, Rome. Sr. Maria Helena Carvalho, Congregational Councilor for the Brazilian Area, and Second Councilor Sr. Licia Mazzia, who traveled from the U.S., also attended. Their presence was very meaningful and a true “healing gift” for all of us!
Symbols of Healing - Our reflection during these days was accompanied by a symbol: scented oil, along with three images: Bartimaeus, the blind man in the Gospel of Mark, the "wounded healer," and the conversation between Mother Frances and her friend Gertrude on Pentecost night. The oil is described in Scripture as a substance that illuminates and consecrates, that perfumes and heals wounds. This symbol, which we used in the opening prayer, helped us feel, savor and taste the presence of the Holy Spirit – a healing presence among us and for us, to be shared with the poor and suffering humanity today. A Biblical study on this theme was presented by our Sr. Michela Refatto who, with wisdom and creativity, involved us in a reflection that touched our lives not only from an intellectual viewpoint, but also from an inner and experiential perspective. “Today we are obsessed with well being: we need to feel well at all costs and at any price. We struggle to live with our fragility and our illness and the illness of others because we struggle with recognizing limitations.” Bartimaeus - The dramatized performance by a group of Sisters of the episode of Bartimaeus, the blind man (Mk. 10:46-52) helped us reflect on the idea that “healing is a gift, and as such it is given to us freely. God is moved because of us, cares for us and heals us.” Michela reminded us that “healing is a gift to be desired, asked for, sought. In order to heal we need to be aware of our wounds and cry out our need to be healed.” Wounded Healer - The other image that accompanied our gathering was that of the "wounded healer," an image that comes from the Talmud, where the "Messiah" takes off one layer of bandage after another because only in this way could he be ready if someone calls him. This is an encouraging image: we cannot wait until we have healed all our wounds to go and help heal the wounds of others.
During this Assembly, some of us shared how we live the healing gift in our ministries: Sr. Marina Triglia in the Formation field; Associate Francesca Campeti in her experience with homeless people; Sr. Laura Viti in her ministry with the psychiatric hospital patients; Sr. Francesca Vitulano with youth; Associate Prisca Luciani in the field of illness and disability; Sr. Vincenza Scassillo at school with disabled children. Here a few excerpts in gratitude for our life -- and for the healing Spirit that never ceases to amaze us . . . “How and when can I live out our healing charism at school? What I understood so far is that relationships are in themselves healing; the healing gift is a gift made of relationships, care, free giving, presence, and creating healthy relationships.” (Sr. Vincenza Scassillo)
“Here is a moment of light and healing: the time is not up to me, the ways that God uses to get into people’s hearts do not belong to me. I can only sow seeds through my experience, my studies, intense prayer, my search with others of what is good. What blossoms from all this does not belong to me." (Sr. Marina Triglia) Through the various experiences we contemplated the wonders of the Lord: through listening and dialogue, we experienced mutual healing; through our sharing, we felt God’s Love: a thousand ways to live our charism and share the gift of healing! |
