† Sr. Luisa RIVERA sscc (Spain)

 

   Dear Sisters:

   On February 1st 2010, our sister Luisa Rivera Vila, died in the infirmary of the Community of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

   Luisa was born in Saa (Orense) on March 1933, to a numerous christian family, (she was the second of nine children), and very united. She entered the Congregation in 1949 and made her temporary profession on February 2 1951 in El Escorial and on August 6 1954 she made her final profession in Picpus (Paris). From that moment she began her ss.cc. missionary itinery. First in the communities of France : Rennes, Yvetot, Boissy. In 1975 she left for the mission in Bangolo (Marfi Coast) until 1987. After two years in the Province of Spain, she went again to Africa, first to the Congo, and then to Mozambique. On February 2 2.009 she arrived in Spain and and medical tests detected a serious illness which she faced with courage, strength and hope. On December 23 she left the hospital after a second operation which confirmed that the gravity of her illness was irreversible.

   At the Eucharist on the 2nd, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord we said goodbye to a woman of God, to a religious who had lived a total self-giving and abandonment, entrusting herself into the hands of God. She was convinced and enthused by her Consecration to and love of the Sacred Hearts. We said goodbye to a sister who had given her life to reparatory adoration, to a service that was simple, joyful and without measure; to a love for the poor and in a special way to the African people. She had a special affection and concern for the young sisters in formation and prayed a lot for them. She also showed her love for our brothers and her desire to work for unity. We said goodbye to a missionary who was behind many of the apostolic projects of the Congregation.

   Luisa, has certainly left a great void but we can only give thanks to the Lord for her life and ask her to intercede before the Father for this SS.CC. family that is convinced that it is needed for the Plan of the Kingdom of our Good God.
 

   In the name of the communities of the sisters in Africa, France and Spain where she did good.

Mercedes Bayo, sscc