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Sr. Luisa Gargione, S.D.V Birth Mr. and Mrs. James Gargione, a young couple from Camella, Italy on May 19, 1927 were greatly elated and thankful because their first child was born. The child was a baby girl that they named Luisa in honor of St. Luis; Sr. Luisa is the first born in a family of two children. In 1930 Luisa, with her mother and father emigrated to the United States. In 1932 Mrs. Gargione and her little daughter went back to Italy because her father wanted her to be educated in the Italian culture while Mr. Gargione remained in America to work and provide for the family. Dream & Vocation Just like any other girl of her age, she dreamed of the future, but simply did not have time to cherish them. At the age of 14 she received the call to religious life. In spite of her father being in USA, Luisa found time to pray, attend church, and seek guidance from God. One day Luisa was at a youth conference and the priest, Fr. Gallasso, spoke about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux who offered herself as a missionary in the cloister. From that moment she was touched by a deep desire to serve the Lord and his church. She decided to become a Vocationist Sister under the direction of Fr. Giovanni Gallasso, a Vocationist Father who guided and helped her to grow in her spiritual life. Several times the Venerable Founder Fr. Justin, who left an indelible mark on her soul, told her to wait for the return of her father to Italy and then enter the religious life. So she did. Entrance to Religious Life In March, 1952 she went to Pianura to join the Vocationist Sisters where she was welcomed by Mother Giovanna Russollilo into the Mother House in Pianura, Italy. Here she started her formation. Her family had lost their precious daughter, but the Lord and the church had gained a dedicated worker for the vineyard. Later on, she was sent to Torre del Greco for her postulancy, under the direction of Sr. Sofia, an affectionate daughter of the congregation. In 1953 she started her novitiate under the direction of Sr. Maria Gallasso in Pianura, Naples. After one month, because of crowded young vocations, the novitiate was split and one group under Sr. Matirde della Greca went to Rome to do the novitiate. After two years of novitiate she went back to the mother house in Pianura where she took her vows in the presence of the Venerable Fr. Justin. This was the last profession officiated by the founder. Her service to God After her first profession she was first assigned as mistress of postulants in Mother House, then she was assigned to Airola, Benevento, as a Superior of the community and as a visiting nurse. There she worked also with the youth as her life was always with the youth. Sr. Luisa worked with Dr. Miguel Russolillo, Fr. Justin’s brother in a surgical clinic as assistant nurse in the surgery room. In 1963 she went to Rome where she completed her nursing studies at Child Jesus and St. John’s Hospitals.In 1966 she moved to the Mother House where she worked for two years in the infirmary with the postulants and with the youth. It was God’s plan for Sr. Luisa, to come to the United States. In 1967 the Rev. Fr. Mario Muccitelli requested Mother Giovanna Russolillo through the Blessing and approval of late Most Rev. Thomas Aloysius Boland to establish the sisters in Newark to help out the Vocationist Fathers in their work and apostolate. As matter of fact, in July 1967 Sr. Luisa was one of the first group to arrive in Newark during the hardest year of Newark’s history as the riots were taking place. Through her faith and prayers Sr. Luisa was able to overcome the hardships of the beginning. For the past thirty-seven years Sr. Luisa’s life has been spent between helping the children at the Perpetual Help Nursery as a nurse and the needs of the parish. She had a word of hope for every distressed soul and a smile of affection for every child. Sr. Luisa taught CCD in the parish for thirty years and RCIA for eight years. She was the local Superior of the Newark community several times. In September 2001 she was elected Delegate of the Mother General in the United States and continues this humble service for the glory of God.
Sr. Luisa Gargione, S.D.V. |
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