Spring Break
The new sisters on the block
Italian nuns lend a helping hand around campus
By: Clair Lavender
Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: Features
|
Part of the Apostles of Interior Life, Sisters Michela Brugnoli, Raffaella Cavallin, Simona Cuillo and Celestina Menin have traveled from Italy and are residing in the Bryan-College Station area to serve Aggies and Catholics.
The Apostles of Interior Life are "a community born to help people rediscover the importance of their interior life and have a relationship with God," Cavallin said.
The four women arrived Aug. 16, and according to Raffaella, "It was hot and humid and crazy, but beautiful nonetheless."
With the common idea that "everything is bigger in Texas" in mind, the sisters quickly picked up on the meaning, noticing big pickup trucks and the huge campus.
"Someone told me 'you are lucky. Texas means friendly,'" Cuillo said.
Walking around campus, St. Mary's students educated them on how to tell who and what year a Corps of Cadet member was based on uniforms. They were taken to their first football game, which was surprisingly "organized - unlike the hooligans in Italy," Cuillo said. They learned the important lesson that "A&M never loses a game, they just run out of time."
Since their arrival in Aggieland, the Sisters have attended daily mass at the All Faiths Chapel located on campus Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m. Arriving on campus an hour early, the Sisters take the time to walk around campus and talk to students, inviting them to mass.
Within St. Mary's, the Sisters are involved in the Busy Students Retreat. This retreat will be from from Feb. 8-12 and is for students who would enjoy a retreat but do not have a full weekend available.
St. Mary's has many of organizations that work to better understand God. The Sisters are well-acquainted with many of the organizations and have been asked to speak at several functions.
Cavallin began her studies to become a part of The Apostles of Interior Life when she was 21. Having dropped most of her relations with the church for her love of soccer and a job as an accountant, she said the leap was surprising but felt right. After meeting an American member of the order, Cavallin became intrigued by her views of Christ.
"I remember falling in love with happiness that day," Cavallin said.
Since her graduation from a Pontifical University in 2001, Cavallin has been an active member of the order and resided at the University of Illinois for four years and the University of Wisconsin for three years serving God by interaction with students.
Likewise, Cuillo made the decision to join The Apostles of Interior Life at the age of 20 when she heard a priest make the comment, "God has a plan for you. If you want to be happy, find your plan."
Feeling that the married life was not her way, Cuillo decided to "spend life giving to the poor, not just the poverty poor, but the poor in spirit."
The Sisters are available to talk whenever students need it. They started a movie night where they invite students to their home. They cook Italian food, watch movies and hang out.
Although their time in College Station is undetermined, hopes for the future include a discernment organization known as Samuel Group. This group is the same one that many of the Sisters went on before they decided to join the community and will hopefully aid students in Aggieland.
Apostles of Interior Life
Communities such as The Apostles of Interior Life are "orders" in the Catholic church.
An order is a group of men and/or women, also called "Brothers and Sisters of Christ."
"Sisters" are also known as "consecrated women."
The black and white dress is called a "habit."
A nun is associated with living in a convent or closed facility to spend a life in solitary prayer.
The Apostles of Interior Life was founded by an Italian priest named Father Salvatore Scorza in 1990.
The community ministers by traveling to public and private universities, churches and homes.
Those who join the order will study two years of philosophy and three to five years of theology in a Pontifical University in Rome.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com