The governance structure of the Southern Europe Region is enriched with Local Communities.
We embrace new beginnings for a future of sustainability of Services and continuity of the Charism
Bethany and Saint Euphrasia are the names of the two Local Communities born from the former Italy-Malta Unity.
Sister Doris, a regional councillor, also became Canonical Leader of the St Euphrasia Community, which brings together Houses from Malta and Sicily.
On 19 May, Sister Ester took over as Rectory Leader of Betania, the grouping of realities in Central and Northern Italy: Loreto, Quinto di Treviso, Reggio Emilia and Viterbo.
The Acts of Faith and Fidelity of Sister Doris and Sister Ester were celebrated on emotional, participative and spiritually significant days: the first on 24 April, the anniversary of our Foundress’ “birth into heaven”, the second on Pentecost Sunday.
Immagine: https://www.seminariobergamo.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/pentecoste.jpg
On both occasions, the Leader of the Region, Sister Fatima, brought encouragement, closeness and confidence in the generosity and accompanying capacity of the Local Canonical Leaders to the new Communities.
From the messages written by Sister Rosalinda, for the Community of Saint Euphrasia, and by Rosanna, for the Community of Bethany, we highlight here in particular the reflections that emerged in Malta on the symbolism of the Sacred Space set up for the occasion:
Photo: the Sacred Space set up in Malta
‘Everything is beautiful: the plants in the centre give life; admiring the plants that only God creates; the photo of H.M.E. and the Good Shepherd, in whose footsteps we are to follow; Ps 23 who gave me life; the Good Shepherd who gives his life in abundance; Jesus is eternal life even if our health fails; the lighted candle that showed the way to H.M.E. and we must follow; the red flowers representing the heart, the love of Jesus for us and which inflamed H.M.E.’s heart; the sisters from Palermo said they had celebrated a beautiful Mass with beautiful flowers: lilies and roses representing purity and love for the marginalised; H.M.E. was strong, courageous, our mission is now a mission of prayers. We need to see what awaits us as a new community. Doris needs advice.’
At Bethany, writes Rosanna, ‘We have entered a new era, a new Community has been born, made up of some 30 sisters, living in 4 different houses. But the wind that has blown today must bring a real renewal, shake us up to become a single community, without losing the characteristics of each house. […] It was emphasised that the choice of the name ‘Bethany’ was not decided at random. It means ‘house of the poor’ It is nice to quote the words of Sister Teresa of Quinto of Treviso: ‘Sisters, let us put together the bread and fish we have and the Lord will work miracles!
