PAX – SISTER EVANGELINA LONGHI

PAX!

Renewing our faith in the risen Christ, in whom we place our certainty and our hope, we announce with pain, but with gratitude, that on 21 September 2022, at 1.10 am, in the sickbay of Mother House, in Voghera (Pavia) ITALY, the heavenly Bridegroom received in his arms,

SISTER EVANGELINA LONGHI

Province “Giustina and Maria Schiapparoli”

at 90 years of age and after 72 years of Religious Profession.

Sister Evangelina (Teresa) she was born in Cremosano (Cremona) on January 16, 1932. The young Teresa knew our Congregation through the Benedictine Sisters in Balbiano (Milan) where her family lived. In this place the Benedictine Sisters had a kindergarten and a lower primary school.

She entered the Congregation on February 2, 1949, in Voghera (Pavia), where she was received by Sister Tranquilla Madama, by then the local Superior. At the time, the Superior General was Mother Giovanna Zonca. Her novitiate mistress was Sister Camilla Bassani.

She had the happiness of making religious profession, in the Holy Year, on August 15, 1950, in the chapel of Mother House, in Voghera (Pavia).

Sister Evangelina has always been a simple, good, dedicated and prayerful person. From the very first days of her Religious Profession she placed herself at the service of her neighbor in full availability.

She was a sure presence for young people in the male orphanage of Voghera; she was maternal assistant for the student girls of the boarding house Saint Pio X in Voghera; tender mother for the children in the kindergarten in Broni, Corbetta, Vespolate, Serravalle, Voghera (all in Italy); educator and assistant for many children in Timisoara and Oituz (Romania); courageous and maternal assistant for the elderly of our nursing home in Genova (Pegli) Italy.

Sister Evangelina had an inner serenity and a particular sympathy to attract the weakest people. Very balanced, she gave herself without measure even in difficult moments.

She held the position of local Superior in various communities both in Italy and in Romania and remained at the service of the Congregation until 2019, when she was transferred to the Mother House. Here too she was always available to the extent of her strength.

In the last months of her life, she experienced moments of great physical suffering and looking at Jesus on the cross, she said: “Jesus, I am ready. Come and get me!”

Tonight, in profound silence, at 1.10am, the Lord took her with him forever.

Her funeral will be celebrated tomorrow 22 September 2022 at 2.30pm in the Chapel of the Mother House and she will be buried in the cemetery Voghera (Pavia).

In fraternal communion of prayer, united with all the Sisters of “Giustina and Maria Schiapparoli” Province, family and friends, let us hand this treasure into the arms of Jesus, his beloved Spouse.

“I exulted when they told me: Let’s go to the house of the Lord”

(from the memory of the 25th anniversary of Religious Profession)

REST IN THE PEACE OF THE LORD

Sister Maria das Dores Paz, Secretary general