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Sometimes things happen… having hosted Sr. Angel Bipendu (Congolese of the congregation of the Disciples of the Redeemer) in Almè, when she arrived from Sicily – hired by the ATS of Bergamo – for the service to the Medical Guard, granted us the experience of welcome and sharing of the two charisms and interculturality.
For two years of her routinary service of being in the night duty, substitute of colleagues, help in the management of the kitchen of the kindergarten and serving the children when it is needed, her intervention in front of some accident (ex. fall), insect bite, fever etc… until the time of the pandemic, she took care of the community, she stayed in the guest house of the monastery of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters… and later found an apartment.
The sharing of her person, was not lacking even in those tiring and painful months: every now and then she passed by to greet and see how we were, but at the same time we also worried about her, knowing her in daily contact with covid patients.
For the service, she carried out on the Coast Guard ships that collect migrants, from boats, she received the Caravella Award in Otranto at the end of the XV festival of Mediterranean Journalists.
Interviewed by a journalist of Vatican Radio, she also had the opportunity to participate in the Pope;s audience at the end of which there would be a brief meeting for a greeting and few words… to which Sr. Angel also made the request for me, so I accompanied her… and so on
September 20, I found myself in St. Peter; Square in a privileged; area I would say.
Before leaving, since I brought the statue of Bakhita and after the Pope’s catechesis on Comboni and his love for Africa I thought. Bingo! nothing happens by chance;
With few minutes available I had the chance to say something to Pope Francis, I said: “You spoke of Comboni and Africa, I brought you a statue of Bakhita…”. I would like to say a lot of things, but those who push the cart are in a hurry. But, that’s okay.
It is the third time I meet; so closely the Pope.
I remember the emotion with John Paul II. The gentle smile of Benedict XVI in the Sistine Chapel after the
baptism of Philip, son of a former student of Lodi, whose father was a relative of Pope Ratzinger. And now Pope Francis. These
are occasions that leave a mark on you and help you when everything is not going in the right direction.
What can I say??? Everything is grace (from the diary of a country priest).
Sr Maria Vezzoli
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