Sr. Giovanna Craighero, A Tireless Missionary!
«How lovely on the mountains are the feet of the messenger announcing peace, of the messenger of good news, proclaiming salvation! » Is. 52: 7
After forty-one (41) years of missionary life in Africa, more precisely in Cameroon (1981 - 2022), today 19 September 2022, at 10.30 am, Sr. Giovanna Craighero on board the Land Cruiser (Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart) leaves Nkoabang for the international airport of Nsimalen, it is the definitive departure for Italy! What emotions! We who are witnesses of this historical moment, live in our flesh and in the depths of our hearts, the laceration of separation. «To go is to die a little... but to go to seek God is to find life».
We already note that on Sunday, August 21, 2022, in our chapel in Nkoabang, all the Sisters of our Vice Province took an active part in the thanksgiving Mass celebrated to thank the Lord for the unique witness of the missionary work of Sr. Giovanna Craighero in Africa, to offer her new mission in Italy and to pray for her intentions. In his homily, the Reverend Father Kevin EMEKA, Discalced Carmelite, paid homage to Sr. Giovanna exalting her courage to embrace the precariousness of the missionary ad gentes, her adaptation, her insertion and her integration in the mission, her fidelity to living and transmitting the charism of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. In a word, her active participation in the new evangelization. All the sisters have shed the tears listening to these words of thanks of sr. Jeanne: «I have loved Africa, I love Africa» and her desire to radiate and expand our mission in Africa! The final song of the Mass did not know the same rhythm as the others... because everyone was asking if is was reality or a real nightmare? After Mass, we shared a fraternal meal exchanging what sr. Giovanna was for each of us personally and for our Vice Province.
Sunday 18 September 2022, the day before the departure of sr. Giovanna, the neighbouring communities, namely Nkilzok and Elat Minkom joined Nkoabang for one last farewell to our sister. In short, the ceremony was very simple: the family meal, a song performed by the Juniors, the Psalm 23 «The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want» to entrust our sister to the Good Shepherd who is the Author and the Source of every vocation and mission. We concluded this moment with the offering of gifts, an expression of our joy and gratitude to Sr. Giovanna.
Before allowing the sisters to give a small testimony for Sr. Giovanna Craighero, we want to briefly retrace her missionary journey in Africa: she arrived in Cameroon in 1981, she resolutely put herself at the service of evangelization through teaching, Pastoral care in the parish by animating young people in the movements of Catholic action, the animation of women and vocations, the care of the linen of the church, the initial formation Postulancy and Novitiate. She has also assumed the positions as Local Superior, Regional Superior, Vice Provincial Councillor, Vice Provincial Vicar... As we can see, she collaborated greatly and contributed to the building up of the mission in Africa. She also had the fraternal and apostolic experience in different communities: Nkilzok, Nkongoa, Nkoabang, Elat Minkom, Bamenda etc...
What can we draw from the missionary experience of Sr. Giovanna Craighero in Africa? Here are some testimonies of the sisters:
The presence of sr. Giovanna for 41 years in our Vice Province has been a great treasure for us, especially in the witness of consecrated life.
We learned a lot from her, through her teachings, her sharing and her experiences. From her we keep the image of a tireless, pious, enthusiastic person always having the love of work well done. Her example of life calls us to cultivate in ourselves the spirit of belongingness to the congregation. Let us thank God for what she has been for us. May the Lord continue to support and accompany you in your mission.
Sr. Victorine MBORA and Novices.
I keep many memories of Sr. Giovanna that I could not list all here. Among other things, her fraternal and maternal love, her sober lifestyle, her mortification, that is, knowing how to strip herself of herself to make room for God and for the other. I admire her openness to the acceptance of God’s will at the price of the sacrifices, she lives with faith, the taste of work well done, her dedication and devotion to the life of prayer. In a word, her rigor and her discipline. With her, I learn to live the virtues proper to our charism: patience, humility, faith, fortitude and to carry my cross to the following of Christ.
Sr. Giovanna, you have sown the seeds of Franciscan missionary hope in Africa. Your memory and your works continue and will continue to flourish in our lives and will bear fruit according to God’s heart. How to give thanks to the Lord for you Sr. Giovanna, how to say thank you? Simply living every moment with faith. Thank you, abui Ngan, beriwo, thank you, thank you and many thanks «Grace and happiness accompanies you every day of your life» sr. Hortencie KOA LEBOGO and Juniore; Sr. Renée MBIDA ESSAMA and Community Ste. Marie des Anges, Nkoabang.
Sr. Joan is a precious gift that God has given to our fraternity. She is a sister who has many qualities. Among many, I would say that she is a sister who has the art of work well done. She takes her time to teach others without getting tired. She teaches by her example. She too is a Mother who knows how to protect her children well. Finally, Sr. Joan is a woman of prayer, she always puts prayer first of all. Thank you, Lord, for all that you have taught me through your humble servant Sr. Joan and for the inheritance that she has left us. May the Lord grant you all the graces you need to continue your mission of evangelization. Once again, thank you to my sister for everything, God grant her the reward. Sr. Catherine KPUYUF WASHA.
Sr. Giovanna, as I always love to call you, you have been more than a sister to me because your maternal affection has very edified me. You always have a particular sense for prayer as a good religious and you have encouraged me in my spiritual life. You have been an example for us to follow of cleanliness and assiduity at work. I will miss you very much, Sr. Giovanna, but one thing is certain, you have marked my story and you will remain for me a sister who has many qualities.
Very affectionately, Sr. Canisia BERINYUY and Young Sisters formed by Sr. Giovanna.
I bless the Lord for the wonderful gift He has given me to meet Sr. Giovanna in this Institute. Sr. Giovanna is a simple Sister but she realizes that she is able to touch the perfection that is God in the fidelity to the little things. This Sister with a big heart welcomed me from the heart and with joy since my first day of the Novitiate, very kind, caring, selfless, humble and also very rigorous and always in search of perfection. She really showed me the hidden faces of my personality and supported me both physically and spiritually throughout my education. I truly tell you with all my heart. Thank you because you have helped me to recognize my hidden self, very useful talents to the community, to work on the perceived defects and to encourage to go forward with Christ...
- Giovanna you go to Italy but you remain my Mother of the Novitiate, remains model of sacrifice, of enthusiasm and of fidelity in all the small things of the life. You go away, but you are here! Thank you, sr. Michelle Archangel NDIMBECK, newly professed.
If all the sisters put their testimony in writing, a book should be written.
To the praise of God!
