PAX – SISTER BENEDETTA VISOTTO

PAX!

Renewing our faith in the Risen Christ, in whom we have deposited our certainty and hope, we announce with emotion, but with gratitude, that on September 14, 2024, at 06.30 a.m. (local time), at the Hospital of Voghera (Pavia) Italy, the Heavenly Father took into his arms

SISTER BENEDETTA VISOTTO

Province “Giustina and Maria Schiapparoli”

at the age of 91 and 72 years of Religious Profession

Sr. Benedetta (Giuseppina) was born in Voghera (Pavia) Italy, in March 8, 1933. She met the Benedictine Sisters in Voghera, her hometown. In December 3, 1950, she wrote to the Superior General, Mother Giovanna Zonca:

Good Mother, I have been feeling the vocation to become a religious for a year. Jesus calls me to serve him in his house for my whole life… I have only one burning desire to love Jesus, to make him loved by all souls and to make myself a saint.

The young Giuseppina was welcomed into the Mother House by Sr. Tranquilla Madama, local Superior, on December 17, 1950 and, immediately, she showed the keenest enthusiasm to enter the Novitiate early to prepare for the Divine Wedding with the Immaculate Lamb.

On June 20, 1951, she took the habit receiving the name of Sr. Benedetta, a name that she honored with dignity until the end. Her Mistress was Sr. Camilla Bassani. Her First Religious Profession took place in 1952 in the Chapel of the Mother House, Voghera (Pavia).

Sr. Benedetta was a jovial person and enthusiastic about life. Already during the first years of his Consecration, she manifested a strong missionary zeal and a great love for the poorest and smallest. After her Religious Profession, she enthusiastically dedicated the years of her youth to children in kindergartens and parish ministry until 1984.

When the Congregation decided to enlarge its tent as far as Africa, Sr. Benedetta spontaneously wrote to the Superior General:

Mother, I present to you and your Council the request to be sent to this mission in Guinea-Bissau. It has always been my desire to be able to carry out a missionary apostolate. I know I don’t have any special skills, but I have a lot of good will.

Her request was accepted. She began a journey of spiritual and pastoral preparation with great enthusiasm. She was also able to involve the communities where she had worked in this missionary spirit. The community of Dagnente attests to this:

For some months Sr. Benedetta, who was a kindergarten teacher for some years and whose memory is still very vivid among the population, has been carrying out missionary experience in Catió in Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest African countries. As a sign of gratitude for the good received and as a tangible sign of solidarity for the serious problems that Sr. Benedetta has to face daily in her mission, the Dagnese Community will raise funds through a lottery and they will be sent to Catió. It will be for the parish a Lent of fraternity with the Third World, a worthy preparation for Holy Easter.

The true missionary is the one who opens his arms to embrace everyone. Sr. Benedetta, in her simplicity and goodness, left traces of goodness wherever she passed. In addition to Africa, she also faced the mission in Albania and in various communities in Italy.

Sr. Benedetta, a person of prayer, vibrated with the news, above all, of her Africa. She gladly participated in events and cultivated, with passion, love for the Congregation and a strong friendship with many people.

Since 2015, she had been in the Mother House, in the Infirmary, where her nursing sisters and employees cared for her with love.

Let’s give the chance to her Provincial Superior, Sr. Paola Magugliani:

Dear Sisters, this morning at 6:30 a.m., while we were all preparing to begin our day with prayer and the celebration of Holy Mass, the Lord Jesus called Sr. Benedetta to celebrate the solemn and joyful liturgy in heaven with all our sisters who already enjoy the glory of the saints. Let us pray that the divine Bridegroom will welcome our dear Sr. Benedetta into his arms and give her eternal rest. Sr. Benedetta passed away in hospital, almost a month after the femur operation, from a heart complication.

We thank the gift of Sr. Benedetta’s life and ask the Lord that her generous and happy offering may make new vocations to our Congregation flourish from the Father’s House. Thank you for the good done in Guinea-Bissau and in the various missions at the service of our Congregation.

Dear Benedetta, you fought the good fight and you fought to the end with joy and serenity. Now, you are in God, remind us to the Lord.Each Sister who leaves takes a little of us and leaves much of herself.

The funeral will be celebrated on Monday, September 16, at 9:30 a.m., in the Chapel of the Mother House.

In communion of prayer with all the Sisters of the Province Giustina and Maria Schiapparoli, with relatives and friends, we hand her over to Jesus, her beloved Spouse.

“Where you don’t find love, sow love and you will reap love.” St. John of the Cross

(from her writings)

REST IN THE PEACE OF THE LORD!

Sister Maria das Dores Paz