Professional Formation of the Sisters Appointed to the Missions Ad Gentes all over the World
Project location: WORLDWIDE, Portugal, England, France, Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh
Project start date: January 2011 -
Project end date: December 2011
Project number: 2010-69
Beneficiary: Congregazione Missionarie dell’Immacolata
Currently, the congregation is present in all five continents with 896 missionary nuns, including 153 Italian, 627 Indian, 53 Brazilians, 49 of Bangladesh, 10 from Papua New Guinea, two from Cameroon and two in China.
The Institute is purely missionary, and thus needs to invest much time and money in training for the nuns to missions. It often has difficulty finding the necessary funds to cover the cost of studies. Generally, in fact, donors are in favor of funding the activities undertaken by the nuns during their missions, but not to support the training of the sisters who carry out these activities in the world.
The objective of this project which received a grant from the Nando Peretti Foundation, is therefore training and language study to be carried out by the Sisters for the missions. In addition to higher education needed to achieve their vocational training, the sisters also need to study the local languages of the countries in which they are appointed: English, French, Portuguese, Bengali, Cantonese and Mandarin, as their work can not be done without knowing the official language.
In addition to the official languages, the sisters have to learn many other tribal languages. In fact, through the tribal languages they can better come in contact with local people and appreciate the culture of the country and improve people's lives.
Until now, the sisters were able to cover the costs of their studies with the help of many benefactors, but now, due to the financial crisis, it is becoming increasingly difficult.
The Nando Peretti Foundation's contribution will support a year for expenses necessary for the formation of the sisters. To study the languages, the sisters will be sent to different countries in the chosen language: Portugal, England, France, Hong Kong (to study Cantonese, at least for two years), China (to study Mandarin) and Bangladesh. In this way they will be well prepared for their missionary activities to benefit the poor.
Of course, the duration of study is different for each sister, according to the country of destination. In Hong Kong, for example, will take at least two years of study, while in countries such as Portugal and England will be just a one-year stay.
The sisters are very motivated to learn new languages, to meet their missionary vocation and start as soon as possible to work with people.
