Dear Readers,

An adopt column I wrote a few years ago, caught the eye of long time reader Marie Martinelli, who has since “adopted” an octuplet of Salesian Sisters to pray for her family and friends.

Wishing to spread the word about customized prayer, tailored by prayer professionals to fit your needs, Marie Martinelli invited Adopt-a-Nun program director Sr. Mary Rinaldi, FMA to the Festa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù celebration, held at Casa Italiana (1039 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, tel. Rectory and Casa Italiana (323) 225-8119, Rev. Giovanni Bizzotto C.S. Pastor) when she came to California to visit “adopters” in other parts of the state.

I recently spoke with Sr. Rinaldi and she told me that the mass celebrated by Fr. Bizzotto, followed by a rosary said in procession around the block on a sunny Sunday afternoon, accompanied by the music of Tony Ciaramitaro with his Sicilian Band, the delicious Italian luncheon, the warm reception she received at Casa Italian, and several people “Adopting a Nun” on the spot made Sr. Rinaldi’s stop at the Famiglia del Sacro Cuore di Gesù celebration, the highlight of her visit to California. “Grazie” to all who helped make the Festa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù a success and to long-time “Italian Connection” benefactor Tony Ghezzo, who took the photos.

Following is a reprint of my Adopt-a-Nun, 2004 column, for the benefit of readers who missed it the first time around:“Throughout the USA and Canada many folks have “adopted” Salesian Sisters to pray for them or are adopting sisters to prey for the bereaved, in lieu of flowers. Sr. Rinaldi credits a remark by Fortunato Bosco, born in Italy but long time resident of Tampa, Florida, with being the spark that ignited her Salesian’s Sisters “Adopt-a-Sister” which contributed significantly to the construction of the St. Joseph Provincial Center in Haledon, NJ. His remark was “Sister, we need your prayers more than you need our money.”

And so it was that the Saint Joseph Provincial Center was built, furnished and basic retirement needs of the Salesian Sisters met. Many of the retired sisters are jubilarians who have celebrated 60 years or more of religious life, with many of those early years spent serving teaching in Salesian school classrooms throughout the Unites States.

In addition to a biography of “adopted sisters”, adopters receive an excellent quarterly magazine “Partners in Giving” which enables adopters to vicariously visit the Sisters who live at St. Joseph Provincial Center and “meet” through photos and stories some of the other 40 sisters in residence, their visitors and mini-miracles attributed to them by their “adopters”.

Of course there are also birthday cards, holyday notes, correspondence, phone calls and in person visits for “adopters” who care to initiate them. Adopters who prefer to participate less, can just sit back, relax and be assured that twice a day, like clockwork their “adopted” sister is praying for them.

I first learned about the "Adopt-a-Sister" program in 1999, when I read about it in People Magazine. To date I have "adopted" eight sisters, one for me, four for my daughter and three as gifts to pray for recipients of good health or even success in the green card lottery. I currently have five "adopted" nuns all praying daily in the morning and at four in the afternoon, in case I want to join my praying partner across the miles, pray for my intentions.
In this day and age when we have personal trainers, personal shoppers, etc. what a great idea to leave the praying to the professionals. For only a little more than $8.25 a month ($100.00 a year) this is truly a gift that keeps on giving, long after you "adopt" a nun and receive her biography and photo. Incidentally, the Salesian Sisters are an order with an “Italian Connection”.

The Salesian Sisters are a Roman Catholic Order that was begun in Italy by St. John Bosco and by St. Mary Mazzarello. They are over 10,000 working in 96 countries around the world. In 1907, the first missionaries set foot in New York City to begin their work with immigrants and educating their children. Today, there are 150 Salesian Sisters in the Eastern half of the United States, continuing their mission of serving the young, specially the poor, in schools, youth centers, a retreat house, and summer camps in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama.

The title "Salesian" was chosen by St. John Bosco because of the esteem he had for St. Frances de Sales, and his desire that his Priests, Brothers and Sisters imitate the kind and gentle ways of this saint. The FMA after Salesian Sister names represent their official title in Latin: FILIIE MARIE AUXILIATRICIS. This translates, DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, their formal name.

My "adopted" sisters are Sr. Rosalie Di Pieri, Sr. Mary Baroni, Sr. Mildred Zanetti, Sr. Irene Zaccagnino and Sr. Virginia D'Alessandro. They pray for my intentions and good health. For my daughter, a nice Italian American gent appreciative of beauty, brains, bubbly personality and beautiful heart that does not come in a "stecchino" package.

I first read (1999) the "Adopt-a-Sister" story in People Maga-zine, (they were also featured in 1995 on 20/20 television program). Following is an excerpt from the article on the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, 659 Belmont Ave, North Haledon, NJ 07508-2397, Tel: (973) 904-0102, in case you would like to "adopt" a Sister for yourself or give a birthday, baby or anniversary gift to friends or family.

Back in 1991, the Missionary Society of Salesian Sisters, dedicated to teaching poor children, found themselves in need. Forty elderly nuns from the order's North Haledon, NJ branch were desperate for a new dormitory. But, how to come up with $5 million for construction? Sister Mary Rinaldi, FMA figured that bake sales would require the patience of Job (if not the flour power of Pillsbury). Instead Rinaldi, who headed up fund raising, rolled out a plan to peddle the nun's prayers. The "adopt-a-Sister" program, launched in 1992 (via a toll-free number: 1-871-OUR-NUNS), now includes over 3,000 good souls. Each has donated $100 or more a year to "adopt" a member of the order who prays for them, - most commonly for good health, - daily.

Many of the pairings have grown to include letters, phone calls, visits and friendships.
In some cases, many friendships. One Florida widower adopted 100 nuns. "He was get-ting 100 birthday cards, 100 Christmas cards," says Sister Rinaldi. "It gave him life." And, she adds, the program has given the nuns a new outlook. They have people to think about, babies to be born, ill to get well."

By 1998 the elderly nuns watched as workers broke ground for their new residence. By 2000 the Sisters had moved in and the program supports the Sister's Retirement Fund, each of the Sisters is like an offering to light a votive candle in church. It burns all day for your special needs while you are busy with other tasks.

More info call toll-free: 1-(877) OUR-NUNS, or visit them online at:
www.salesiansisters.org.

Pictures:
1 Sr. Mary Rinaldi FMA, Tony Ghezzo, Marie Martinelli and Christine McAleer.
2Marie Martinelli introduces Sr. Mary Rinaldi FMA, Adopt-a-Nun Program Director to Festa del Sacro Cuore luncheon attendees at Casa Italiana
3Christine McAleer, Assistant to Sr. Rinaldi, Anita and Louis Baiocco, Sr. Rinaldi FMA and Joanne Ghezzo.

 

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