AMUNEWS
St. Gianna household members meet Dr. Esmeralda Molla after her testimony to AMU students.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: ST. GIANNA’S DAUGHTER VISITS AMU
a v e m a r i a m a g a z i n e | s p r i n g 2016
AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY THANKS BERNADETTE RIENZO FOR MORE THAN A DECADE OF SERVICE
6
Bernadette Rienzo has dedicated more than a decade of service to the Ave Maria community. After volunteering with the University for 12 years, her service was celebrated on her last day on campus in January. Bernadette joined AMU at the old campus in Naples, and continued to dedicate herself to the Department of Campus Ministry during the University’s formational years. Her work with students and getting to know them on a personal level has had a lasting impact. “Bernadette offered herself tirelessly for the students,” said Grace Cheffers, Director of the Mother Teresa Project and Service Learning at AMU. “Their problems mattered to her, and she prayed for each individual that she was helping.” Bernadette has always demonstrated an endless supply of care and concern for AMU students and the world around her, making her an integral member of the community. Ave Maria University would like to thank Bernadette for her tireless, self-giving service to the University community. Ms. Cheffers also echoes this sentiment, “I would like to express gratitude to Bernadette for her many hours of service. She is a woman who exhibits great faith and lives a thoughtful, deliberative life for God and others.” Bernadette’s service made an impact on everyone that she encountered, and Ave Maria University wishes her well as she moves to Washington D.C. to live with the Little Sisters of the Poor.
St. Gianna Molla’s daughter, Dr. Esmeralda Molla, visited Ave Maria University during several months of travel throughout the United States. Esmeralda played a significant role in Pope Francis’ World Meeting of Families in the U.S. because her mother was selected as the patron saint for the event. St. Gianna Molla, Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother, is a great representative of motherhood and the pro-life movement. While pregnant with her fourth child, St. Gianna had to choose between saving her own life or her child’s. Despite the inevitable risk of death in giving birth during time of illness, she refused an abortion and hysterectomy. Esmeralda is devoting her life to spreading the message of selfless, genuine love which her mother exemplified. On January 29, students were able to meet Esmeralda, a once in a life opportunity. She shared the stories of her parents’ holy marriage and life of sacrifice which led to the heroic decision of her mother giving up her own life for Esmeralda. St. Gianna’s daughter provided students with a firsthand witness of her parents’ conversations shared through letters before and during their marriage. “Esmeralda talked not only about her mother’s bravery, strength and love in giving her life for her daughter, but she also talked about her joy in caring for her father when he was unable to care for himself,” said sophomore Nora Anderson. “When I met Esmeralda, she encouraged me to continue to be actively pro-life and that is something I will never forget.” AMU Students for Life, the largest student organization on campus, attended the event, as well as a household devoted to St. Gianna Molla. One of the household members, freshman Katy Sherman, said of her experience, “it had such an impact because I was able to meet and speak with someone who is a living example of St. Gianna, whom I look up to tremendously and have a great devotion to.” Esmeralda plans to dedicate the rest of her life to her mother’s memory. She is raising funds to transform her family’s former home in Italy into a place of prayer and devotion. Many people ask Esmeralda for prayers because of her spiritual connection to St. Gianna Molla The unique experience of meeting the daughter of a saint is one the students will remember forever. —Veronica Macias