“Giving, love, caring, kindness, seeing, gratitude, the poor, tenderness”: these are words written on cards by the participants in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor’s presence in Messina, which they returned to us in a lively wave of life.
A celebration of praise, blessing, and thanksgiving took place in the parish of Santa Maria dell’Arco on June 15, which was attended with enthusiasm and joy by our Sisters of the Congregational Leadership Team together with those of the other SFP communities, Associates, and friends.
This was a celebration conceived with the desire that everyone should feel like a protagonist: from the pioneers of the first moment to the latest to arrive. And so it was!
In these 50 years, so much life has been given and received, and, despite the challenge to summarize it, it has not been difficult to see the common origin of every single year and ministry, which came to life through the grace of God: from youth ministry to popular missions, from service at the Caritas and in schools to the Judicial Psychiatric Hospital, from couples ministry and care for women to services geared toward different forms of poverty. In all of these, the care for the relationships that have been cultivated during these years emerges.
Emphasizing our identity as FRANCISCAN, SISTERS, of the POOR, a thank-you in three steps naturally took shape: for itinerancy, fraternity, and recognizing the self as poor and loved.
Through some words of Mother Frances and lived experiences, we honored what was and what will be in each of these steps. What were the most touching moments? The video with the photos of the many people who have taken turns in the Messina adventure and the song Ecce ancilla Domini (“Behold the handmaiden of the Lord”), dedicated to us with love and talent by a dear friend from our early days.
Here is some feedback regarding this anniversary:
“This celebration told me things that I did not know and others that returned to my memory. Everything gave me the feeling of being projected into the future, with the desire to adapt to the times and to listen to our Lord and to Mother Frances,” N.
“An intense afternoon where we had the experience of Mother Frances’s charism in everyday life and over the years. A life that is a gift and the possibility of transformation,” L.
“Finding the Sisters again who had accompanied my life was a real joy. Reminiscing through shared memories, created by growth in faith and generosity toward the least, made me feel emotional and filled me with a sense of gratitude for Mother Frances who called them and for God who led them to Messina,” A.
“I was struck to see so many people whom the Sisters have helped over the years and their memories of the goodness they received,” S.
“The charism of healing continues to shape our Sisters, who throughout these years knew how to adapt, by welcoming new poverties and the new needs of the least, healing the wounds that touch the depths of the heart,” A.
“Giving oneself, community, service, and being close to another are the words that resonated most in the testimonies. This projects me into a future also made of history, to remember, to take as an example, and to meet new poverties,” C.
“THANK YOU for the “heart” and the “care” that the Sisters and the whole charismatic family gave to us during these years,” M.
“May you continue to bring the beauty of Christ to everyone”: this wish came at the end of the solemn, well-attended eucharistic celebration, after which we gave attendees a small magnet with a pansy, a flower dear to Mother Frances for its simplicity and delicacy.
Best wishes for all of us for these 50 years of Grace and for all that is to come!
The Casa Santa Chiara Community
