PRESENCE OF THE CONGREGATION IN ITALY
FROM 1929 ONWARDS…
OUR FIRST MISSION AT CLINICA MARIA TERESA – MONTE MARIO 1929 – 1972
Under the leadership of Superior General, Mother Marie Augustine, a great need was felt of the presence of a community in Rome in the 20th century. However, due to the disturbances of World War I, it was not conducive to start the project. It was entrusted to Sr. Marie Victorine, elected Superior General in 1920, to take on this project. From the authorities of the Vicariate, she learnt that Rome lacked an Institution for patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, a disease that was widespread and devastating at that time. On May 27, 1929, Mother Marie Victorine, with General Councillor, Sr. Agnes Marie and four Daughters of the Cross from Belgium came to Via Trionfale, Monte Mario, to establish the first community on Italian soil and precisely in Rome.
On May 22nd 1930, Cardinal Pompili, Vicar of His Holiness, presided at the ceremony of the Laying of the foundation stone of the Clinic. On 2nd May 1931, the Sisters of the community in “Piccola Casa” moved to the big house “Clinica Maria Teresa”, Via Trionfale, Monte Mario. During the difficult war years, the hospital which was reserved for women was extended to both sexes. Many veterans injured in the battlefields or from most devastated areas were admitted. There were also many seminarians from International colleges. The house seemed to widen its walls to welcome refugees, Jews, displaced people of all kinds. It was so much akin to what Blessed Marie Therese and her Sisters did in the emergencies attending to the war victims and cholera patients.
1964-65 IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE NURSING HOME IN MONTE MARIOI TO A MEDICAL SURGICAL CLINIC
This was an important phase for the Nursing Home to be transformed into a Medical Surgical Clinic. The progress of medicine, particularly with regard to tuberculosis, had led to significant decrease in the number of admissions in the sanatorium of Monte Mario. On the other hand, the city of Rome, with a growing population, saw its hospitals crowded, with less space for accommodating its patients.
Faithful to the Charism of Mother Marie Therese, we once again turned to the most urgent needs of the time. In 1964, at the cost of great sacrifices, the house was transformed into a medical-surgical clinic: the medical and paramedical personnel, the equipment, the furniture was almost completely renovated. We worked with ardour and the sick lacked nothing. However, this new apostolate lasted for eight years.
VITERBO (1956-1957)
The Sisters were invited to Viterbo by a doctor known to them in Monte Mario as a talented surgeon who had worked there for 20 years. He ran a small clinic in Viterbo. He needed the support of the Sisters in his profession. However, with the enthusiasm to create a new community, the sisters accepted the offer. The internal running of the clinic was in the hands of the young deputy director. Despite the difficulties, the Sisters managed to carry out their dedicated work for 15 months.
TRESCORE BALNEAREO (BERGAMO) .. 1962 – 1977
The Dean of Trescore Balneareo, Bergamo invited the sisters to his parish. He had a building, then vacant, rather poor, but already hosting several activities. Some elderly women in need of assistance lived there. The sisters were eager to open a house in the diocese of Pope John XXIII.
The Sisters took care of the Elderly in a home for them. The number of elderly women increased. New rooms were renovated for them and soon it became a real rest home. The Sisters were very generous. The local doctor helped whenever necessary and expressed satisfaction with the work of the Sisters. Admissions were not limited to the well to do. Frequently the Sisters accompanied and prepared people for a happy death. Though the Sisters had no other commitments in the parish, they carried out their mission for 15 years.
CORROBIO OF THE ANGELS – BERGAM0 … 1964 – 1978
Carobbio degli Angeli is a pretty village, a few kilometres from Trescore (Province of Bergamo), where the Daughters of the Cross helped the Parish priest with the teaching and management of a beautiful nursery school he had built.
After a year, the arrival in the community of Sr. Maria Celina, now in possession of a diploma as a teacher, made things more regular and organized with an updated methodology for teachers. The presence of the Sisters was much appreciated in Corrobio. However, it was the urgent needs of the Congregation that forced the sisters to abandon Corrobio degli Angeli in 1978.
PERUGIA … 1971 – 1980
In Perugia, the sisters dedicated themselves to the infirmary of O.N.A.O.S.I. (Opera Nazionale Assistenza Orfani Sanitari Italiani) i.e. (National Work of Assistance to the Orphans of the Italian Health Service): In this Institute, the children (both boys and girls) of deceased health personnel receive complete assistance in the boarding school, from primary to university.
In September 1971, a request was made to the Congregation for assistance and this was gladly accepted. Our Sisters were asked to provide nursing care to the boys (about 300) from primary school to university. A little later, the Sisters of the Spanish Institute asked the Daughters of the Cross, to take care of the girls of their Hostel. So, the sisters took responsibility of the boys and the girls sections of the two hostels and there were two communities.
Their apostolate was much appreciated by the Management of O.N.A.O.S.I. and lasted for 9 years. The Sisters had to leave Perugia on 31st October 1981, to form our new community at Via dei Luceri, to provide assistance to the Elderly residents and with great enthusiasm we started the apostolate in Rome.
MARINO …. 1973 – 2005
At the very end of the year (1971), we were able to buy a vast property in Marino, in the beautiful area of the Castelli Romani, where the Camillian Fathers were in the process of change. They no longer occupied the house, where they had lived and had abandoned the same for some years. Therefore, possessing it meant much repair work. The house was simple in architecture, vast and airy, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves with easy access to the village and with good communication facilities to Rome, which was about twenty kilometres away.
In May 1972, the community gradually moved to Marino in small groups ready to begin their new mission. On June 11, the feast of St. Barnabas, patron Saint of Marino, the Blessed Sacrament was placed in the beautiful chapel. The 11th of June 1972 marks the official date of the opening of our new mission in Marino at ‘Casa di Riposo Maria Assunta’ a resident Home for the Elderly of both sexes. Caring for the sick and elderly, very dear to the Charism of Blessed Marie Therese, the Sisters dedicated themselves to this apostolate with all their heart.
During the years in Marino, Sr. Maria Celina, a qualified teacher got the approval in the state run schools in Anzio and later in Marino. Her teaching skills, creativity and human gifts were much appreciated. Later, as the number of sisters decreased, Sr. Celina needed to step down from the teaching profession to assume leadership roles in community and was transferred to the community of Rome.
After the death of Sr. Mary John in December 2005, the remaining Sisters from Marino, joined the community of Rome, Via Dei Luceri 2 as they themselves needed nursing care. In July 2000, the house was given to a Society to carry on the same apostolate.
CASA DI RIPOSO MARIA TERESA 1980 – 2020
HAPPY MEMORIES OF THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES …Sr. Maria Celina,f.c.
21st November 1980, marked a new Chapter in our history of the Italian mission. This inaugural day saw the Daughters of the Cross of Liege being welcomed by the Auxiliary Sisters of the Holy Souls, whose Convent and property would now be handed over to the Daughters of the Cross.
The house and the property was a God send and an answer to fervent prayer, as Sr. Monica Mc’Auley, the then Superior General had commissioned Srs.Marie Amalia, Agnes Marie, and Maria Celina to sought a house in Rome to begin another apostolate of Caring for the Elderly.
This house was beautifully constructed in 1903 by the Auxiliary Sisters of the Holy Souls. With the passing of a century, it needed attention for restructuring, as we were getting ready to care for 25 elderly residents. With great courage, helped by the grace of God, our sisters set to work.. The first guests came in early February 1981.
With Sr. Maria Amalia, as doctor, full of initiatives, assisted with the experience of Srs. Agnes Marie, Maria Celina, Maria Lucia and the rest of the community, the Home was beautifully transformed. A new mission began for the Daughters of the Cross in Rome. Extraordinary work was done each year; not only those imposed by the State, but also other renovations needed by the house. We received the final permissions in 1989 to function as a Resident Home for the Elderly and it was named after our dear Foundress, Blessed Marie Therese and was called CASA DI RIPOSO MARIA TERESA.
The Home could accommodate 25 residents, both men and women. It was cozy, homely and comfortable with a beautiful garden, which lent itself to peace, and tranquility The residents could join the religious services in the chapel, in complete freedom, which included the Divine Office, the daily Eucharistic celebration, and adoration.
This Home for the Elderly, which began in 1980, cared for a good number of 232 elderly men and women during these long 40 years.
Besides caring for the elderly, some Sisters were engaged as Catechists and Animators, earlier in the Parish of St. Lorenzo, and also in the Parish of Maria Immacolata. Our Convent was available to our Parish St. Thomas More and Maria Immacolata for various prayer and other sessions with children and the youth.
Our Elderly residents looked forward to weekly recreation sessions with the Animators of St. Egidio and other groups who visited them.
We had a good number of Italian sisters to take over the responsibilities in the functioning of the Home in the earlier years. With the passing of time, the numbers diminished and most of them left for their Heavenly abode.
That this beautiful work should continue was everyone’s desire. I remember making this request in the General Chapter of 1976. The Provinces of India was our great hope. The first Sisters came in 1983 from the Bombay Province. Later, others arrived from Calcutta and Rourkela Provinces. Several of them helped in the running of the Home for several years and then returned to their own Provinces.
This house has seen many Visiting and student Sisters from all over Europe and Asia. Many of them visited us and stayed with us for a few days after their studies, coming from England and Ireland. We have always been available to show them the city of Rome its sacred, historical and cultural sites.
At the Beatification of Blessed Marie Therese in the year 1991 came a large numbers of Daughters of the Cross from all the Provinces in Europe, the United States, India, Pakistan and Brazil and invitees from the Congo. Again a large number of Sisters came in 2017 for the Translation of Blessed Marie Therese in Liege visited Rome.
SISTERS ENGAGED IN STUDIES IN THE DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES IN ROME
During these years, 60 sisters have come to Rome for their studies in Institute Regina Mundi, the Gregorian University and the Angelicum University, some for one year and others for longer studies.
THE CLOSURE OF THE HOME FOR THE ELDERLY – CASA DI RIPOSO MARIA TERESA IN ROME
With the passing of years, the number of Italian Sisters began to diminish. By 2019, the question arose on whether we could continue functioning as a Home for the Elderly without F.C.s engaged at a professional level? Would professional qualifications from India be acceptable by the Italian Government for the running of our Home? Was it financially feasible?
At the same time, the Generalate was looking out for a house in Rome. This called for a dialogue between the Superior General and Council and the Community in Rome and it was decided it was decided to relocate the Generalate from England to Rome