Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ikonda (Agenzia Fides) - On Wednesday, April 2, the new mission of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Ikonda-Njombe (Tanzania), located near the border with Zambia, will open its doors. At the moment, there are only two sisters of the Sacred Hearts who will be collaborating with the Missionaries of the Consolata who run the largest hospital in the region, which specializes in HIV research. Sister Barbara Goncalves Magalhaes De Castro, a certified teacher from Brazil, and Sister Elisabeth Nizigiye, a nursing graduate from Burundi, will be accompanied by their Vicar General Sister Ines De Giorgi. “This first stage,” explained Superior General Sister Maria Longo, “will be a chance to get situated and incorporate ourselves into this institution that signifies hope for so many sick who live in poverty and that suffer from the common diseases of the sub-Saharan area, like malaria, HIV, and intestinal infections.”
Founded by a priest named Filippo Smaldone (1848-1923), who was canonized October 16, 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI, the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart dedicate themselves to the assistance, teaching, and evangelization of the deaf. They are currently close to 400 in number, present in some 40 European countries, Latin America, and Africa. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2008; righe 17, parole 201)
