I’ve been in this country for 30 years now and today I love Pakistan even more than I loved Africa–something that is difficult even for me to understand. Our mission in this Islamic country, carried out in the midst of many problems, gives immense value to my Paulinelife.
Valeria is my baptismal name. I was a happy child, joyful and fun-loving with friends at home, in the country atmosphere of Farfengo, a small town in the province of Brescia (Italy).
At the age of 20 I was ready and willing to get engaged to the best boy in town: Gino, an excellent singer and baker.
Instead, Jesus seduced and conquered me in a way that neither Gino nor I expected. At the first kiss celebrating our engagement, I clearly heard the Lord’s voice: “Not here; not this path. I will make you my own and give you a mission to carry out.” After that, I never had any intimacy with a man–not with Gino nor with any of the others who wanted to marry me.
My sister Irene, a “child” (12 years old), was with the Daughters of St. Paul in Alba and I was angry about that. “Life,” I declared, “should not be wasted within convent walls….” But one day I understood–only God knows how–that God was calling me precisely to the “convent” of the Daughters of St. Paul to give me a special mission, precious and meaningful for the people of today. After that I was determined to make it clear to everyone, even Gino, that I soon had to leave so as to live my life to the full. From that day on, in the town church, where missionary fervor burned, I no longer sang: “Send those who teach the straight way to heaven”, but: “SEND ME with those who teach the straight way to heaven!”
The oldest of seven children, I left my ailing mother, Gino and the town in which I had led such an active life, confident that the Lord would send me to the missions, where the Pauline life would be more demanding but totally consumed for him and for the people who powerfully attracted me to serve them through the communications apostolate.
And Christ has been faithful, magnificent! He has continued to call me constantly. He accompanied me for my first 15 years as a missionary in Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya, where I fell in love with the African people and rejoiced to see how effective our social communications mission was among the poor. Fifteen years of service–including in the midst of war-torn, poverty-stricken Biafra–but so many graces also received in the form of our first vocations and an abundant diffusion of the Word through new initiatives, approved by the local Church.
Pauline life in Nigeria was splendid! But after Vatican II and personal discernment, some sisters (Italian, American and Irish) left both Africa and the Congregation. The war made it impossible to continue the Pauline mission in that country because the government refused to issue new visas to foreigners. We had to close our community and transfer the aspirants to a local Congregation. Only God knows and understands the pain, the suffering, the humiliation, the fatigue and the tears we shed. How many there were who both built and “wrecked” our community in Lagos, Nigeria.
But the surprises of God continued… In love with Africa, I was happy when I was transferred from Nigeria to Kenya. But then I received a short and unexpected message from our Superior General, Sr. Maria Cevolani:
“Leave Africa!” My God, what news! After 2 years in the “School of faith” in Freiburg, I was sent to a place that had never even entered my mind–the unknown, difficult land of Pakistan.
This unexpected assignment was both a miracle and grace. Through my new mission in Pakistan, the Lord, whom I constantly begged to teach me the importance of detachment, little by little removed my desire to spend my entire life in Africa.
I’ve been in this country for 30 years now and today I love Pakistan even more than I loved Africa–something that is difficult even for me to understand. Our mission in this Islamic country, carried out in the midst of many problems, gives immense value to my Paulinelife. I feel privileged to live among these dear persecuted Christians, who evangelize me with their faith and witness.
As Paulines we have a duty, a role, a significant apostolic mission to accomplish. We consider ourselves to be “Sisters of the Bible,” and we are recognized as such by the people, whom we are striving to reach with the Word of God. Our vocation is a gift, an obligation, a passion, a choice of the heart.
Jesus has led me all these years. He has given me joy, love and grace. His spiritual tactic is unmistakable: he calls a person to mission by way of sacrifice and he always asks for detachment.
Would you believe that he recently asked me to make another big detachment? After 27 years of apostolic life full of beautiful experiences, relationships, vocations, formation and leadership in Lahore, the Delegation superior said to me: “Pack your bags and go to Karachi.” I have been here for a little more than a year now, in this city where terrorism e fundamentalism make life insecure and difficult, especially for the Christians, who are openly persecuted.
I feel privileged to continue to concretize Maestra Thecla’s love and dream for the poor and troubled people of Pakistan.
Thecla and Alberione have shown us in many concrete ways that they love us and are safeguarding us, and the Lord continues to remain faithful to the Congregation’s Pact with him, protecting us from the grave dangers that we face every day. Because of this; I live with love and in a spirit of communion the gift of the Pauline mission in Pakistan, where our young vocations give us hope and vitality, notwithstanding the misery and fatigue that surround us.
I am 80 years old now and I am still a missionary. I am happy to be able to reach such a great number of people with the Word of God, to sow seeds among the “besieged” in the form of a prayer book, songs, a crucifix, etc. The people treasure these little things more than food because they are the vital sap of the Christian life and signs of hope.