Scalabrini Missionaries have opened a community in Syracuse, Sicily to welcome migrants and minister to their needs, reported Fides Thursday.
According to the source, the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, the Scalabrinians, will offer support and assistance to those arriving in Syracuse.
Founded in 1887, the congregation of missionary sisters focused on the care and welfare of migrants and emigrants.
Their Superior General, Sister Neusa de Fátima Mariano, called this initiative–which will be led by Brazilian Sr. Teresinha Santin, Sr. Ivanir Filipi, and Albanian Sr. Gjeline Preci–«a heartfelt response to the call of Pope Francis to ‘open convents to refugees [who are the] flesh of Christ.'»
Located in Southeastern Sicily, the province of Syracuse contains eight percent of Sicily’s population. Syracuse is bordered to the north and northwest by the province of Catania, and to the east and south by the Ionian and Mediterranean seas.
Nearly daily in Syracuse, migrants from Sub-saharan Africa and from the Horn of Africa are coming ashore, which has motivated many volunteers and NGO’s to help host and provide basic healthcare to those in need.
Sister Milva Caro, head of the St. Joseph Province/Europe said this community «is a sign of pastoral charity of their congregation in the year of the beatification of Mother Cofounder Assunta Marchetti.»
She added, «It will be a missionary presence to be ‘lived’ in the local church, with the people of Syracuse and with migrants in order for them to live with dignity.»
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On the NET:
Official website of the Scalabrinis (English version): http://www.scalabrini.org/en/
