With the mission to provide not only material help, but also to preach the Word of God, several sisters of the Claretian Congregation go to the homeless who live near St. Peter’s Square. With a message of Easter joy, they went to a place where people of different nationalities often live on cardboard boxes, without any hope.
Silvija Krivteža – Vatican
During Holy Week, the missionaries organized a service of penance for the poor, homeless and lonely, giving them the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The prayer for repentance took place under the Colonnade designed by Bernini, which for years has been the only roof over the heads of many poor people.
The initiators of the action explain that everything started a few years ago, when several volunteers, after reading the diary of Saint Faustina Kovalska, decided to support the needy in the Vatican area. “We started with hot tea and cake, and then we had the idea to share the Word of God with these people,” Sister Elaine Lombardi tells Vatican Radio. Now, every Tuesday, more than 200 people receive the food they need, and as part of such meetings there is a common prayer and Lectio Divina. “We want to share and preach God to those who need it the most,” said the Brazilian missionary.
Sister Elaine admitted that she has experienced many beautiful encounters with homeless people. “I remember a man named Francesco who participated in Lectio Divina. He was experiencing great difficulties due to depression and challenges. One evening, after praying together, he came to me and asked for a Bible. I gave him what I had in my hands at that moment,” says the missionary . Sister Elaine admitted that Francesco came to her a few days later and admitted that he could not read. “Soon there was a person who helped him and, while learning to read, he discovered the beauty of God’s Word. It was a great joy to see how this thirst for the Word in this person grew day by day,” says the sister. She added: “I see that God is close to the poor. I think it’s something beautiful that touches me deeply.”
