Saveso 2019

Our Italian mission was searching a place to establish our 3rd community after we closed down the community at Borgoticcino after 15 years of our existence there. After getting permission from Sr.Saroj the Superior General, Sr. Mary John (coordinator of the mission in Italy) contacted Msgr. Varuvel Gnandhasan (who works at the Vatican- congregation for the doctrine of the faith) enquired regarding the possibility to have a community in Milan or Rome? Msgr. Varuvel knew Don Carlo Pirotta (Parish priest of Seveso – Milan) who was interested to have the sisters in his parish.

Sr. Mary John, through the mediation of Don Carlo Pirotta had more than once met the Archbishop of Milan, Bishop Mario Enrico Delfini and Msgr. Luigi Stucchi responsible of the religious life in Milan. They had long interaction with Sr. Mary John to know all details about our Congregation before inviting us to their Diocese. Srs. Mary John, Ephrezina and Roopa visited Seveso again and spent sufficient time to study the contract between us and the Diocese of Milan. We could not resist our desireto have a community in the Diocese of Milan where our dear Patron St. Charles Borromeo was Cardinal of Milan for a long period of his life. After due discernment and proper study of the contract between the Diocese of Milan and our Congregation, Sr. Alena Fernandez, Superior General, gave us the permission to start a community at Seveso (Milan).

Seveso (Milan) is a town in the province of Monza and Brianza in the region of Lombardia. The economy of the town has traditionally been based on the furniture industry and many of them work in Malpensa (airport). The total population of Seveso is about 25,000 & it takes its name from the river. In the parish unit of Seveso, there are four parishes (one among the four is St. Charles Borromeo), it consists of 6 priests, one lay consecrated, home for the aged which is called the sister nurses of St. Charles Borromeo, there are lay people of St. Camillo who look after the destitute and us, the sisters of St. Charles Borromeo. There is a big seminary with a beautiful church, due to lack of vocations, the building is used for the students and other diocesan purposes. In the same building the lay sisters of the diocese have their community, our parish has both elementary and high schools run by the laity.

Srs. Mary John and Vijaya reached Seveso on the 3rd of June 2018. Sisters of Meina and Crusinallo helped us in every way big and small and all of them were present for the inauguration of the community. Parish of Seveso gave us official welcome on 29th 2018. On this day all the children, youth and parents of 4 oratories came riding bicycles to the oratory where we reside (oratorio San Paolo VI). It was wonderful to be warmly welcomed by all the parishioners. Our sisters from two communities along with some friends were present and participated in a very meaningful Eucharistic celebration. During the Mass the initiation of the catechists was done, sisters Mary John, Vijaya and Catherine were called forward, prayed over and were send forth to proclaim the good news to all, after the official welcome mass we were invited for the lunch offered by the parish priest. 16 of us along with other parishioners were present for lunch.

Our community in Seveso mainly involved in the pastoral work of the parish. such as, teaching catechism, animation of liturgy, youth ministry, parents’ meetings, caritas, altar boys and girls, faith formation of the families, visiting the aged and the sick, administering communion and summer camps for two months during holidays. The liturgy in this Diocese is special as they follow strictly the “Ambosian Rite” more similar to Syrian rite.

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