East Anglia Diocese trio instituted as Lectors in Rome
May 23, 2016
1400 years of Catholic history in East Anglia
May 26, 2016
An Italian Catholic Sister, who came to England 45 years ago, has celebrated 50 years of service in grand style including two special masses near Peterborough and a special blessing from Pope Francis, reports Fr Adam Sowa.
Thousands of children have reason to be thankful that Sr Letizia, which means joy, came to England 45 years ago as her main role was to run kindergartens, together with many other pastoral duties.
Some 32 years were spent in Peterborough, during which Sr Letizia has looked after thousands of children, generations of them from the same families, and who consider her a beloved "granny'.
After making her final vows in Brescia, Italy in the Working Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth, Sr Letizia came to England with no English at all and learnt to speak the language "by hand' as she said. With only a small group of companions, she worked very hard to build up everything from scratch, first in Bedford and then in Peterborough.
In thanksgiving to God for her charism, many of her former pupils and friends from far and wide, especially those in Peterborough, Bedford and Cambridge, gathered together at the Fleet Community Centre in Fletton, Peterborough, on Sunday May 8 to celebrate her Golden Anniversary in style.
Many members of her Congregation came over from Italy, bringing with them a special blessing from Pope Francis.
Fr Giorgio Grigioni and Fr Adam Sowa MS, the Parish Priest of St Peter & All Souls, said Mass in Italian in the morning, and came to the party in the afternoon with great excitement. All really enjoyed great Italian cuisine and almost burned up the dance floor.
There was also a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Fr Giorgio for Sr Letizia at St Luke's Church in Orton Malborne, Peterborough, on Friday May 20. Many people shared Sr Letizia's joy and had a photo taken with her after Mass. They thanked God for her faithfulness, and wished her ad multos annos!
Pictured top, Sr Letizia with members of her Congregation who came to Peterborough from Italy to join the celebrations and, above, with the congregation at Orton Malborne.
