Theme Song --- poveri coi poveri.mp3 (IT)---  poor with the poor.mp3 (EN)
 

31 July - 5 August, 2005

We’ve come from all around the world.
We’re here today -
Our thoughts, eyes, colours,
A multiethnic array.
With St. Magdalene,
We are called to write
A whole new page,
Of who we are inside…

So begins the theme song of the 2005 International VOICA Convention: Let's write a new page: poor with the poor. From 31 July to 5 August, we truly came from all around the world – 120 participants from 17 countries, to be exact. We were past and present VOICA volunteers, Canossian Sisters, local volunteers, and those interested in volunteer work. We came with our unique histories and experiences to confront the challenge of “writing a new page” – of learning how to truly be “poor with the poor”.

We were blessed to have with us 10 past long-term volunteers (two who had just returned from one-year missions), a handful of Italians preparing for short-term service, and the five women in formation for long-term service with VOICA. The sisters who have worked with Canossian Lay Volunteers before the program was christened as 'VOICA' also added another dimension of hope and direction as we worked toward refining VOICA’s goals and objectives for the years to come.

Throughout the five days of the convention, we learned about poverty from different perspectives. Talks by Fr Pio Estepa, SVD, on the sociological aspect of the poor and by Fr Eliseo Citton, MCCJ, who spoke to us about the Church and the poor, left us with much to ponder in light of how we live our own lives.

We also heard witnesses from three of the four current long-term VOICA mission sites. Meghan Kelly, who just returned from her year in Togo, presented on the many ministries and fruits of the mission in Kovè, Togo. Jenny Brink, who was a VOICA volunteer in Malawi for two years, presented on the mission experience there. Alyssa Kerestes, Chris Peterson, and Marta Narduzzi presented on their year-long mission in East Timor.

Maristella Bigogno, a Canossian Lay Missionary who has been in Togo since 1998, and Mother Maria Morazzoni, a Canossian Sister serving in Ostia (near Rome), also spoke to us about the life of poverty as related to their personal experiences and in the life of St. Magdalene of Canossa. The personal witnesses from these women, as well as from the others who shared their stories, provided the participants with practical experiences from which they could draw courage and hope for their own volunteer work.

Jolanta Bałazy, who was a short-term volunteer in Togo and later a long-term volunteer in East Timor, explained to the convention participants how VOICA Poland functions as an association in their country. There were more than 20 people from VOICA Poland at the convention, representing a great testament of unity, support, and desire for the VOICA missions. Fr Marian Midura, the director of MIVA Poland, was also present at the convention. His organization is collaborating with VOICA this year to provide transportation to our missionaries in Togo and Malawi. In promoting MIVA’s work, Fr Marian also recently recognized VOICA on Polish Television.

Sr Sonia Sangel and her group from East Timor and Indonesia gave us a presentation on their culture and shared their desire for unity and service in East Timor. Sr Sonia later spoke to us about their plight in coming to Rome in terms of cost and logistics, which in the end proved to be a great testament that when you are determined to make things happen, all is possible.

We even had the opportunity to present our group to Pope Benedict XVI at his Wednesday General Audience! As our group was announced, our Holy Father was greeted with the refrain of our Italian theme song resounding in all different accents. In any case, our enthusiasm brought a smile to his face.  

As suggested by Meredith (Snediker) Carpenter, who has been with VOICA since 1997 in various capacities, we had a ‘Dinner of the Poor’ one evening. The dinner was introduced with a short presentation on poverty around the world. Many of the participants complimented the meal, both in terms of ideology and taste. One person even commented that perhaps the meal of rice and beans was too tasty! Nonetheless, the idea of solidarity was in a small way put into practice, which was a good preface to that evening’s Eucharistic Adoration.

After several days of talks and witnesses, the final day of the convention was left for personal reflection, group discussion and sharing on all that we had heard the past several days. Everyone contributed their ideas, questions, and suggestions for the future of VOICA, which were then compiled and synthesised into a statement of commitment and guidelines for the next several years.

Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the Secretary for the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples, celebrated the sending mass for us before we closed the convention. Archbishop Hoser, who is originally from Poland, spent 20 years in Rwanda as a missionary priest. Together with Fr Marian and Mother Marie Remedios, Archbishop Hoser commissioned the long-term and short-term volunteers for missionary work, and we all received a commissioning cross at the end of mass.

There is a great desire for service and collaboration worldwide, but it begins with each of us. It is our hope that the convention has planted seeds in the hearts of those who were present - seeds that will be cared for and nurtured long after we have left Rome. 

CoNvEnTiOn DoWnLoAdS

Theme Song
IT - poveri coi poveri (mp3)
EN -poor with the poor (mp3)
Song lyrics (pdf)

PHOTOS