On the occasion of World Mission Day, this news network interviewed Sister Assandri who has served in Africa for 33 years. Today, the nun manages a “Our Mother Maria” center in Guburi, Ethiopia.
(Vatican News Network)On the occasion of the World Mission Day, this news network interviewed Rosaria Assandri, an Italian mother and daughter who has been preaching in Africa for 33 years. Sister Assandri was born 64 years ago in Caravaggio in the Bergamo region. During these years of missionary work, she opened an orphanage in Kenya and a new mission station in South Sudan. Today, she is serving in Guburi, 170 kilometers from Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia.
Sister Assandri and her fellow sisters did not start a school, but they helped children, young people and women with tutoring or improving their education. Through the Youth Activity Center of the Charity Children’s Association, the nuns provide “a happy place where young people can play and learn together, where young people can play sports, especially football, “The purpose is to keep them from going astray as much as possible.” We also teach young women to work through tailoring schools and bakeries. In addition, there is a canteen for the poor, providing 150 meals a day, and a well to meet the basic needs of many poor families and street children.
During the two-month drought, people lined up to pick up the bread, because the bakery can bake 5,000 breads every day. In addition, there are more than 700 families taking turns to fill their water tanks at the entrance of the “Our Mother Maria” center of the Gubri Muyo Association. This is the way for Sister Assandri and her fellow nuns to witness the love of Christ. They always “smile and lend a helping hand wherever needed.”
A few years ago, the Lord gave Sister Assandri a “gift”, that is, cerebral malaria. This struggling nun of Bergamo emerged from her illness and became stronger than before, and she believed that she wanted to show God to herself and give others the love to free herself from illness. Sister Asandri was able to start a new life again, and I would also like to thank the medical staff of Milan Sacco Hospital. The nun said, “Now, I want to give without reservation, give, only give.”
During these years of service in Africa, how did Sister Assandri bring the word of God to the African people, and how did she testify of God’s love? The nun said, “We are in a country where there are very few Catholics, especially in Ethiopia. We named our center “Our Mother Maria” in order not to discriminate against anyone. Here, most Believers are Orthodox Christians, Protestants or Muslims. There are very few Catholics, but we are open to everyone and bring the love of Christ to everyone. This is a good deed that we do. When we do it, we do not distinguish between religion and tribe. “.
As for how to do it, Sister Assandri said, “Smile and reach out where there is need. Some people need food and some people need clothes. We try our best to get what people need. This year, we also visited many families, We also got some beds because people were sleeping in the mud. We also opened a canteen for the poor, with a lot of people coming, about 150 people every day. In addition, there is a small bakery: we We bake more than 5,000 breads every day, especially for children and many poor families. We also have a sports center for young people to prevent them from living on the streets, because there are indeed many dangers.”
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