Italian Area Assembly: Celebrating Life as the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Family

   Group of participants at the Assembly

“We really felt within and among us the power and charism of Mother Frances.”

The Italian Area Assembly (June 27-29, 2009) actually started on Friday June 26, when each of us, as Sisters and Associates, began our trip to Vermicino. The traffic was heavy and slowed us down... but it was worth it! The next day, breakfast was already joyful with hugs and kisses, reminiscing, questions. Those who were still living through difficult personal moments and painful moments of their dear ones were also present. Ours was a beautiful, large and very close family!

 
Sr. Michela Refatto during an excursion in the Holy Land.
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Jubilee Liturgy
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After the opening prayer Srs. Gianna Giovannangeli and Tiziana Merletti gave us their brief, deep and meaningful welcome. Friar Johannes Freyer spoke about “The Community of Life: The New Vision of the Cosmos According to the Franciscan Tradition.” The theme began with St. Francis and St. Anthony, continued with Alexander of Hales (the first great Franciscan theologian and philosopher, who inspired also St. Bonaventure) and concluded with a few thoughts by Blessed Duns Scotus, the famous theologian and philosopher.

The following three ideas moved me in the talk:

1. Life Gives Life - This explains why God became man. According to Franciscan theologians, this happened not because God wanted to redeem us from our sins, but out of God’s love for life, in order to give us life completely.

2. Giving Back - Franciscan poverty does not consist in not having anything, but in “giving back” what one has – gifts, charisms – in other words “sharing” in order to give others the opportunity to find or take back their lives. Holding on to one’s gifts is equivalent to taking something that does not belong to us, which is really stealing.

I thought that, at my age, as I am approaching the difficult years of old age, it could be a reason of hope and grace to continue believing that the strength that is slowly fading away is the “giving back” of the many gifts I have been using for so many years.

3. Creation is an Expression of God - We often wonder how we should behave toward the weakest, but is it not even as difficult (or even more difficult) to relate to those who are stronger? I must admit that after hearing Fr. Freyer’s words, my relationship with creation has changed, going way beyond that sense of respect and care I have felt since my youth. Creation is an expression of God; we can even speak of true sacramentality of creation.

   Working at the Assembly

A question and answer session followed the talk. There are some who recognize the issues in creation, looking at the current situation in order to solve them. Others more idealistically visualize and project toward the future, envisioning how to change and educate the world to lead us toward a better tomorrow.

The day continued with the commissioning ceremony for the Philippines mission. Srs. Cristina Di Nocco and Maria Atorino shared the experience of their first visit to the Philippines and showed us many pictures. We also celebrated 50 years of consecrated life for Srs. Beata, Letizia, Regina Nigro and 25 years for Srs. Mariapia Iammarino and Anna Ingoglia.

   From Left: Liturgy of missioning for Srs. Cristina and Maria | Celebrating together

We heard the experiences of Sr. Michela Refatto, who was in the Holy Land for four months to study; Sr. Raffaella Maresca, who came back to Italy after spending three years in Senegal; and Sr. Carla Casadei, who told us about her years of ministry in our Italian Area. Listening to them was like a full and complete immersion in the Lord’s Grace! These are real people that are willing to give themselves away, always and anywhere, even with their weaknesses, difficulties, and sickness. It is a holy and active engagement, which I too would like to apply to my own life, without holding back or having doubts or second thoughts.

Friars, Sisters, lay people, friends, Associates... life is life and the most beautiful thing is to live it fully, filled with enthusiasm and trust in the Lord.

   From Left: Sr. Gianna with the moderator Dr. D'Angelica | Sr. Raffaella shares her experience in Senegal

   From Left: Sr. Carla talks about her ministry | Friar Johannes Freyer, OFM

Another element that struck me is how all this happens so naturally. There is a task to be accomplished, it is done, no matter how great or small that task was. How different this is from our attitudes (similar to the Gospel story about the Pharisee and the tax collector), which are often filled with pride and fulfilled by doing just a little good!

These experiences were a really good life lesson, a life that is lived, as one the Sisters said, in the spirit of “let your Will be done:” “I never came forward, but I never went back once I was called...”

There were two other important topics, and I left them for now because they are the most colorful. . .

1. The Strategic Plan for the Italian Area - an action, plan which is studied in all the details. Organizational leaders should envy it! There must have been a a great deal of work involved in preparing it. I also thought that, given a certain tradition and mentality, there may have been the “American” touch of our Sisters behind it all. I really liked the contents, the reasonable dates, and the ambitious but realistic goals.

2. Opportunities for Exchange - Finally, for us Associates – we are such a multicolored world! We come from the North and from the South, some of us are young (while others are not), some are retired, while others still work. Of course there is diversity among us! We had two opportunites to dialogue around the tables, with the Sisters present, but especially during the Assembly – where each one was free to say what they wanted. While the Associates shared their experiences, the Sisters continued to work at the planning and organization, reflecting especially on the various functions within the Area.

At that time, I thought about my meetings at work, where people clash and try to overcome one another. Here instead we learn to listen, without rushing, or interrupting. At times there were moments or more vivacious exchanges or small confrontations. There was applause and appreciation for Fr. Freyer. Someone told us about his life and hopes. There was a great variety!

In the evening, we celebrated and danced; many hidden gifts were brought to light! The last day we said good-bye. We heard communications by Srs. Gianna Giovannangeli, Tiziana Merletti and Anna Ingoglia: these were delivered with great vitality and gave us much to think about. It was too bad we had to leave!

The family of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor is a living miracle, a gift of God ... we really felt within and among us the power and charism of Mother Frances.


- By Silvio Zaina, SFP Associate