FOUR YEARS RICH IN EXPERIENCES

Time has truly flown by. Looking back at our arrival in the dead of winter in 2022, it seems almost incredible that four years have already passed.

We give thanks to Jesus the Good Shepherd and to our Italy–Albania–Mozambique Province—represented by Sister Cesarina Pisanelli—for giving us the opportunity to share our lives with the sisters here in Italy. This experience has been a precious gift for us; it allowed us to get to know the "founding" sisters of our Congregation more closely and to meet so many sisters who, with joy, generosity, and faithfulness, have dedicated their lives to the good of the Congregation and the People of God.

Their witness is a source of inspiration and hope for us. Through their example, we have experienced that with the Lord, all things are possible. They encourage us to continue our journey of juniorate with confidence, to always look ahead, and to live out our vocation with hearts open to Jesus the Good Shepherd, allowing ourselves to be shaped and guided by His love and His will.

In the various communities that welcomed us, we experienced the gift of fraternity. We met sisters who, through the witness of their lives, taught us the value of fraternal life; they welcomed us with affection, simplicity, and great openness, making us feel like part of the community right from the start.

In particular, in the Traversari community—where we spent our time dedicated to study—we came to understand that community life is not founded solely on academic pursuits. On the contrary, we experienced authentic fraternity, lived out through the richness of diverse cultures and the sharing of daily life. While study was certainly an important part of our formation, it did not take precedence; at the heart of it all remains our identity Pastorelle Sisters, called to live out communion, mission, and service in accordance with the charism we have received.

The experience at the parish of Saints Francis and Catherine in Rome was also deeply significant. Our contact with the people, our collaboration with the parish priest, and his constant attentiveness to our community helped us gradually integrate into pastoral life. Over time, a relationship of trust developed, fostering an increasingly concrete and fraternal collaboration.

Catechism classes with children preparing for First Communion provided us with a precious opportunity to bear witness to our charism and to share our identity and mission as Pastorelle Sisters.

Being close to the children and their families allowed us to experience firsthand the pastoral service that defines our vocation.

Leading the liturgy through song was also a meaningful experience. The hymns fostered an atmosphere of prayer and participation, helping both the parish community and us to experience the liturgical celebrations with greater intensity. It was beautiful to feel part of a single assembly that, through song, praised the Lord and joyfully lived out fraternal communion.

The Lectio Divina sessions at the parish—which we took turns leading as a community—were among the most significant moments of our pastoral and spiritual journey. It was a privileged experience of listening to the Word of God, sharing our lives, and growing in fraternal communion. Through these meetings, we witnessed the faithful and generous participation of the parishioners, who approached the Word with open hearts, a spirit of faith, and deep trust. This experience confirmed how the Word of God, when welcomed and shared within the life of the community, becomes a source of communion, nourishment for the spiritual journey, and an impetus for an increasingly authentic witness to the Gospel.

Our time at the university is also a source of great gratitude. We had the opportunity to meet colleagues who welcomed us with warmth and openness, demonstrating a spirit of collaboration and mutual support from the very beginning. Their closeness and assistance made our studies more peaceful and enriching. We remember with affection Mrs. Gigliola, who welcomed us as "her daughters" and supported and encouraged us in our studies.

For all this, we give thanks to the Lord, as we had not expected to find such a warm welcome and such generous cooperation. We recognize in this experience a sign of His Providence, which has accompanied us through the kindness and openness of the people we met along the way.

The experience of fraternity and study has awakened in us the desire to renew, once again, our "Here I am" to the Lord who calls us. It has encouraged us to rediscover the beauty of our consecration with fresh enthusiasm and to live out the mission He will soon entrust to us with renewed zeal.

We return to our beloved homeland, Mozambique, with joy, enthusiasm, and profound gratitude for all the graces the Lord has granted us to experience during these years. We carry with us a wealth of experiences, encounters, and gifts received, which we will cherish with gratitude in our hearts.

Sr. Atija Albino and Sr. Jacinta Gaspar

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