Smiling Nun of Camerano cheers many
By LEA EMERY
With a beautiful
smile and the voice of an angel, she has brought something special
to Camerano. Sister Simona along with two other nuns, Sister Domitilla
and Sister Fulgenzia, have brought new life to Camerano through
their faith, presence and work, focusing mainly on children.
The
three women, who arrived in Camerano in 2004, are sisters of the
Servants of Mary, a religious order founded by Don Ferdinando
Maria Baccilieri in the 19th century and now operating in five
countries but not the United States.
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Enter
Sister Simona's world of faith and music and be prepared to
be amazed.
Video by Bobby Pope
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One
of the three women sent to be part of this new ministry in Camerano
is Sister Simona, a philosophy graduate of the University of Bologna
who has yet to make her final vows.
Now, age 27,
she has decided to give her life to God and could not be happier.
“Every person looks for happiness," she said. "They
meet other people who help them find this happiness. For me, life
in the community with Christ is what I was looking for.
According
to Simona, “The community in Camerano is very strong and lively,
there are many young people who are very active.”
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Sisters
Domitilla, Fulgenzia, and Simona stand in front of their apartment
window.
Photograph
by Jennifer Adams
Sister
Simona in her natural environment, the church.
Photograph
by Jennifer Adams
Sister
Domitilla listens attentively to her colleague, Sister Simona,
as they discuss their mission.
Photograph
by Jennifer Adams
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Most recently, young children working with the sisters spent a month
making crafts and then sold them to raise money. The money was not
for the children or the church in Camerano, but to give to other communities
in need. This year, the money was sent to Indonesia, South Korea,
Brazil, Germany and the Czech Republic, all countries with communities
of sisters from the Servants of Mary .
Next year is the most important year for Sister Simona’s walk
in the sisterhood. For the past four years, she was required to renew
her vows once a year. Her vows must be renewed one final time, but
then they will be permanent.
After five
years, a sister must decide if this is the way she wants to spend
the rest of her life. Sister Simona has decided that living her
life for Christ and helping others is what she loves to do. She
loves to be in contact with young people and can not imagine her
life any other way.
Sister Domitilla
and Sister Fulgenzia are both retired nurses. They too have been
in Camerano since 2004. They visit the sick and participate in other
community activities, including daily Masses.
The three women
believe that they have the spirit of Christ in them, love what they
do and spread their joy to everyone with whom they come in contact.
These women have truly blessed and brought something special to
the community of Camerano.
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