After completing her initial religious formation and having made her First Profession at the Mother House in Liege, Sr. Maria Celina was getting ready to return to her community at Monte Mario in Rome. In her encounter with Rev. Mother Marie Stanislas, Superior General, when the latter asked her what kind of a professional career she would like to be qualified in for an apostolic mission in Italy, Sr. Maria Celina spontaneously answered that she had a passion for teaching young children. Thereafter, when Sr. Maria Celina returned to Rome, the next day, she was taken to the Training college for an interview, followed by the admission process, and succeeded in being admitted as a Student for a three year Master’s Programme in Teaching.
Sr. Maria Celina, gifted with the qualities of patience, creativity, compassion, enthusiasm, organizational and communication skills and fun loving activities, fostered intellectual, social and emotional growth in the children. She also had a good rapport with the parents. She began her professional teaching apostolate from 1965 to 1981. She first taught in the Parish school in Corobbio, then got approval in the State-run schools in Bergamo, Seriare, Anzio and Marino till March 1981. While in the teaching profession, Sr. Celina was engaged with children and youth in recreational activities.
As the number of Sisters decreased, there were fewer Sisters left for leadership roles in the communities and Sr. Celina needed to resign from her teaching profession and be one of the pioneers at Casa di Riposo Maria Teresa, Rome, which began its new apostolic mission in 1980 for the Care of the Elderly.
In this apostolate, Sr. Maria Celina was engaged at different times as Superior of the Community as well as Director of the Home for the Elderly. She also worked as Director and Co-ordinator for Catechesis and preparation of the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation, for pre-teenagers, in the Parish of St. Lorenzo, Verrano, Rome for three years, till the sub-division of the Parishes.
