Sisters Isabella and Serena, who came to Konya from Italy on March 8, 1995 to live in St. Paul’s Church, which was built in 1910, are leaving Turkey after serving for 27 years.
The Brotherhood of the Resurrected Christ, the name of their community – Fraternità Gesù Risorto – was founded on August 15, 1977 in a small village called San Lorenzo Dorsino in the Trento Region of Italy, consecrated by the Bishop of Trento. “Wherever two or three people gather in my name, there I am among them.” (Matthew 18:20) The Word of Jesus aroused in the hearts of the two fathers Vigilio Covi and Fiorenzo Soraruf a desire to offer a tangible place for Jesus’ presence, they wanted to live and indwell together. This is how the story of the congregation began, and Father Vigilio Covi is now the Congregation’s High Priest.
Until 1935, there were Priests of the Augustinian Congregation of the Assumptionists in Konya. Then, once a month, a priest continued to come from Ankara to celebrate the Mass. After Sisters Isabella and Serena took office, a priest comes from Ankara at least once a month.
Stating that the Turkish community in Konya is generally very small, but many Iraqi Chaldean refugees have stayed in Konya in 27 years, the Sisters said that for the last 7-8 years, Africans who have been here as students or employees have lived here for the past 7-8 years. They stated that a few Iranians also live here, but they are few in number. They also emphasized that people of various nationalities (Congo, Nigeria, etc.) from Africa come to the church every Sunday, about 25-30 people, a prayer meeting is held every Sunday, even if there is no mass, and they are more on big holidays.
Maria Grazia Zambon of the Ordo Virginum, who previously lived in Ankara, will replace Sisters Isabella and Serena. (She is affiliated with the Diocese of Milan, Italy, by the “Fidei donum” – the gift of an ecclesiastical officer from one episcopate to another.)
At 12 o’clock on Sunday, January 9, the nuns, together with their congregation, celebrated a farewell service to greet their friends and especially to give thanks to the Lord. While Father Felianus Dogon, Deputy General of the Archdiocese of Izmir, was conducting the Ceremony, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Izmir – Chief of Staff – Father Alessandro Amprino, and the Deacon of the Episcopate Nikola accompanied the ceremony.
On Monday, January 10, the Sisters of St. Paul’s (St. Paul) Church, Isabella and Serena, and their accompanying Father Felianus, Father Alessandro Amprino and Maria Grazia, located within the boundaries of Konya Meram district, paid a farewell visit to the Zambon District Muftiate. Expressing his satisfaction with the visit, District Mufti Zekeriya Koçak thanked the delegation for their meaningful visit and wished them ease in their new duties in Italy. He also wished success to newly appointed Maria Grazia.
Sisters Isabella and Serena will return to and reside in their Congregation in Italy on Sunday, January 16, 2022.
As we finished our beautiful meeting, Sister Isabella put her hand on her heart and said: “Turkey and Konya will remain in our hearts!”
(SAT-TÜRK Haber /Nathalie Ritzmann)
