maracaibo
MARACAIBO Hermanas Rosminianas Colegio ” A. Rosmini”
Ap.do 10180 Edo Zulia
THE MISSION
Entering the area north of Maracaibo you can see from afar the high bell tower of San Marco di Venezia. It points out from afar the presence of the Italian Rosminian mission in Venezuela, founded in 1960 for the assistance and spiritual care of the many Italian emigrants.
The Italian mission in Maracaibo through the work of fathers and sisters closely united and collaborating developed in the three branches of charity, spiritual, intellectual and material.
The church of San Francesco and the whole complex of the mission offers itself with its wide spaces to people, fathers, nuns, ascribed as a living and fervent work of evangelization for the city, in communion with the Diocese of Maracaibo. It is a point of reference for many, not only for Italians who find a welcoming place to keep the language and origin alive but also for ascribed and friends.
THE SCHOOL
Currently the school complex called Colegio Antonio Rosmini is considered as one of the best educational centers in the city; it includes kindergarten, primary and secondary school of first and second degree. Italian is taught there and even the little ones like to speak it on special occasions.
The current small community of sisters is present for collaboration in the work of the Rosminian Fathers, youth ministry, liturgy, catechesis and social work.
Sister Maria Victoria is a teacher of religion in first and second grade schools. Sister Maritza teaches religion in kindergarten, follows the families of four- and five-year-old children.
In this time of Covit the school is closed, so nuns, fathers and teachers continue with distance learning. There was a time of preparation for everyone and now they experience it. The pupils and their parents correspond well and a fruitful dialogue has been opened. This has allowed the expansion of relations to others and Sister Maritza teaches English in the same way.
IL BARRIO LOS PESCADORES
From the beginning, the evangelizing work of the Sisters and Fathers has also been addressed to the inhabitants of the adjacent Los Pescadores barrio with visits to families, the animation of liturgical times, preparation for the sacraments of Christian Initiation, summer camp and other free initiatives for children and young people.
The Christian-social work continues today and has intensified with the involvement of lay people who collaborate for the weekly distribution of food, medicines and clothing to the needy. Venezuelan friends who have emigrated abroad, alumni, send aid with generosity.
WE ARE ROSMINIAN DISHES
“Platos Rosminian” is a non-profit organization and without government assistance. Our main goal is social action, that is, the care of the community. In this sense and with our Rosminian spirituality, we dedicate ourselves to carrying out work in the most needy sector, but also geographically closer to the area where the Antonio Rosmini SCHOOL COMPLEX is located in the city of Maracaibo. We state that as Rosminian Sisters of Providence we must serve our Lord by serving others and, although education is the main work, it is no less true that through it we can join efforts to educate the people of the territory to be better citizens, in this way we teach our students to build a city, through the example of service.
For several years we have formed the group that calls itself Platos Rosminiano, started with the intention of assisting and helping the poorest of the children and the elderly of the Barrio Los Pescadores, located north of Maracaibo the group gradually became a fraternity with the community, so much so that other projects have emerged that deserve the help and presence of the Rosminian Sisters. We bring food every Friday to share lunch with this community. We have ventured into the catechism of the neighborhood or sector and so we go to the School of the barrio to impart formation and education in the Faith.
We continue the work hand in hand with a team of volunteers that has normalized with alliances reached, sponsorships, students, alumni and representatives of the Colegio Antonio Rosmini; collaborators, commercial activities and others. All this can be seen and is made explicit in the special activities: health days, oral hygiene sessions, delivery of toys, courses and conversations to the community, etc.
At present, and despite the crisis in the country, we have not stopped work, but rather through humanitarian aid and people’s sensitivity, challenges have been taken on such as increasing the number of meals distributed, delivering milk-based drinks, including distributing food to sick children and infants; all this through the support of benefactors, institutions and organizations, as mentioned in the previous paragraphs. In the last year, 250 people (including children and the elderly) have been assisted, all with difficult economic situations, some in street situations, most with very low resources, which has also allowed us to understand that precisely because of this need it is essential to continue to help and echo this situation and in some way try to counteract the most marked traits of the poor with training in values.
The disasters that periodically renew themselves in the barrio and throw the poor among the poorest into poverty and pain do not leave us calm. In the helplessness and amazement of the moment, after the Mass and the visit to the Chinita, our dear Madonna, we renew our commitment and relaunch new proposals to restore dignity and relief.
Every time we try to arrive quickly in time: in the good we cannot expect: we do as Mary who visits and consoles her people.
Vedere Allegato