INTERVIEW CANOSSIAN WORLD Asia and Oceania, with unfurled sails on the sea of interculturality NEWS REPORT Women of the Word who love without measure SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY N° 8 Ecumenism and dialogue, MAY/AUGUST 2019 ways to peace vita più Towards the General Chapter “Brother, if you are different from me, propose for personal and communitarian Dear readers, sister. rather than offending me, you enrich discernment. It is a look to the world On 8 May 2019, we celebrate our birthday: In this edition of VitaPiù, I wish to share me”, wrote the French author Antoine with a reflection on the intercultural 211 years of our Congregation. We en- with you an important event for our In- de Saint-Exupéry. Differences and dimension of a growing global movement tered history at the beginning of the 18th stitute to help us live in fidelity our mis- peculiarities of a person, place or of young people who are asking for a century in Italy. Little by little we extend- sion: The General Chapter. It is normally culture, do enrich us if we know how to change of step towards a more respectful ed our presence by inserting ourselves celebrated every six years and it propos- place ourselves in the right perspective: and sustainable globalization of the es to be a search together, with a vision that of welcome and openness. In an environment; a recall of our brothers in various nations and peoples, sharing encounter we can risk the self and and sisters who have lost their lives in their story, their reality, and walking with that embraces the world with the most discover that the other is gift. This is the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka and a them urged by the desire to make known adequate paths in this historical mo- why in this second edition of VitaPiù thought on the apostolic exhortation and to offer the most beautiful gift: Jesus, ment. It is a multicultural gathering in 2019, we continue to deepen the themes “Christus Vivit”. For the first time, we the Son of God, who humanizes and re- which, more than 70 sisters representing of interculturality. In our journey we will offer excerpts and suggestions for veals the beauty and true meaning of life. the whole Canossian world, will partici- arrive in Asia and Oceania, the first reflection also from the web, and finally, In these last two centuries, our response pate. It will be celebrated in Rome from 5 continents outside of Europe towards the commitment of the Canossian has sought to be faithful to the mandate March to 5 April 2020. which the Canossian missionary passion Foundation VOICA for the human of Jesus: “Go into the whole world…”. A In the Chapter we will consider together set out - a melting pot of peoples and promotion of the person in the world mandate that Magdalene has made her what is the significance of our presence 2 cultures where intercultural encounters beginning from the weakest, and of the in today’s world; which are to be our re- 3 are forged. Through interviews, we have projects that need our support. Enjoy own and has passed on to us, her Daugh- plies to meet the objectives we propose gathered experiences and reflections your reading! ters. This mandate, that from the be- from the Canossian communities spread ginning has been lived in collaboration ourselves; what is to be our fidelity to the throughout the East. Meanwhile, with the laity, traces an unending path charism that we have received as gift, be- the Canossian world has entered an that doesn’t end but extends in time and sides other aspects regarding the life of important phase that will bring us to the brings us towards suffering humanity, to- the Institute. Further, during the Chap- next General Chapter of which we will wards the world’s peripheries to continue ter, also the sisters that will form the next tell you the theme and stages that the to “make Jesus known and loved”. This General Council will be elected. It will be present General Council has chosen to Paolo Bovio expression, so often repeated by us, has responsible for promoting the new orien- always had a pressing invitation. tations by animating the sisters and the It is the spiritual, cultural and educa- laity who with us share in our ministries. tional challenge that has always existed. Please accompany us with your prayer VITA PIÙ OWNERSHIP General House of the Canossian Embraced by Magdalene and, over these that we may live this year of preparation Daughters of Charity in universal communion and because, an- RESPONSIBLE DIRECTOR Paolo Bovio two hundred years, by each one of us. It N. 8 - MAY – AUGUST 2019 CONCEPT AND GRAPHICS Studio Bertin is founded on trust in humanity that, in imated by the same Spirit, we might live EDITING Paolo Bovio spite of negative and at times degrading our mission in all nations and cultures. Authorized by the Tribunal of Rome COMMUNICATION TEAM, experiences, it can always restart with a The Institute is a great Family that de- N. 52/87, 6 February 1987 CANOSSIAN INSTITUTE sires to walk united in the same Spirit Sandra Maggiolo (Assistant General) new way of life and regenerate itself with along the paths of the world. Maria Grazia Bongarzone (Coordinator) God’s grace and the help of a brother or Paolo Bovio (Operations Manager) www.canossian.org infocanossiane Sr Annamaria Babbini Congregational Leader infocanossiane youtube vita Index più AN IMAGINERY INTERVIEW P. 6 NEWS P. 35 A missionary heart that is still beating Sri Lanka, an “Interview” of Sr Maria Stella, pioneer of the Canossian missions Easter of suffering Sr Sandra Maggiolo United in prayer for the Christians MESSAGGE martyred on the “Pearl of the ocean” PAGES OF LIFE P. 9 PAGES OF LIFE P. 12 Missionary Roots He is alive, and he wants you alive SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY P. 36 Ecumenism and dialogue, Faces, episodes, curiosities from Apostolic Exhortation intercultural paths to peace et us remember the historic and iconic gestures of the past. In L1964, Pope Paul VI embraced Athenagoras, the Patriarch of Con- Canossian history “Christus Vivit” puts us back on the stantinople. In 1986, Pope John Paul II promoted a meeting of religious leaders in Assisi. Pope Francis, on his Ecumenism and dialogue, various trips, has met the Patriarch Kirill in Cuba in 2016, the shaykh journey al-Tayyih, the Great Imam, in the mo- PAGES OF LIFE sque al-Azhar in Cairo in 2017. Even Canossian Sisters all over the world intercultural paths live such wonderful occasions in their daily lives. Ecumenical dialogue between different Christian confessions and inter-reli- gious dialogue with those of other wor- to peace 4 ld faiths is evermore necessary in a 5 INTERVIEW 36 world made of intercultural exchange 37 P. 14 PERSONALITY and occasions for encounter. Dialogue P. 28 is, in fact, an authentic witness that religions may invite people today to ask themselves the vital questions CANOSSIAN WORLD about meaning, encourage inquiry and openness to mystery. Discover the ultimate value of the human person and rescue him from the logic of profit and utility. Precisely because he is hu- man and as such encloses within self a fragment of the divine mystery. Our humanity is common to all, whatever With unfurled sails on the our faith or non-faith, whatever our culture, nationality or ethnic origin. Dialogue is a way of witnessing we can live together, we can respect our dif- Greta Thunberg ferences and we can seek har- sea of diversity mony and build peace together. A society in which individual identity is not eliminated, but appreciated precisely because of positive relationships. PERSONALITYRSON EVENTS P. 38 CALENDAR READINGS P. 3 0 EVENTS Suggestions on-line NEWS P. 32 and off-line VOICA P. 4 0 Women of the Word who NEWS P. 34 From the young girls love without measure At the Way of the Cross with Francis, and boys, future guests with “all the crosses of the world” of our new “Lord Jesus, help us to see in boarding Your Cross all the crosses of the world” school at Laripani AN IMAGINERY INTERVIEW vita più A missionary heart that is still beating “Interview” of Sr Maria Stella, pioneer of the Canossian missions r Maria Stella, we already know those faces, in those hands moved by Maria Stella, a few years later we find ‘firstborn of charity’ who Fr Raimondi some things“ about you. We know the heart always extended towards you leaving for Hong Kong. Tell us... baptized with the name of Maria Sthat you were born in Milan, in others. There was a sister who was “ON 27 February 1860, I left with Angela Francesca. I remember that 1833, of parents that were “Christians, never at peace: Sr Luigia Grassi, other five Canossian companions that while one of us was cuddling her in her of a true Lombardy brand” as it was the Superior of the community. With Sr Grassi called ‘a thousand times arms, another was running to prepare then said. Mother Dagnino related to an open mind, burning with love for blessed’! We set sail from Trieste her food and we would alternate for you a young woman, determined and God and for neighbour, whether men where the anchors of the ship ‘America’ prayer and house chores. When we lively, with a rich, creative personality, or women, she was always ready to were lifted, as we left Italy. After the of strong will and audacious in doing run to their assistance as long as goodbyes came the homesickness, good.