Maria Bambina Sister Liberata Fausti, 92, is the last of the Italian missioners, who began evangelization in Bengal 150 years ago. The nun, who spent 60 years in Indian missions, says she wants to die in India, “giving my bones too to the mission.”

Her Milan-based congregation, officially called the Sisters of Charity of Sts Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa, is dubbed as the first women’s congregation commissioned by Propaganda Fide to help evangelization of the Indian subcontinent.

Their mission began when four Italian sisters reached in Krishnagar, which later on branched off to the present day Bangladesh, Myanmar and the south of India.

Sister Fausti, who now lives Krishnagar, where her predecessors started the mission, shares her experiences and dreams.

How do you feel when your congregation celebrates 150 years of work in India?

SISTER FAUSTI: At this very moment, I feel I have just come to India from my country. I feel the grace of God was working in our midst, because we came without knowing the language. We learned the language of the place and were giving Jesus, and attempted to make them one with Him.

What made you opt for mission in India?

During the novitiate, we were introduced to the missions. Every year the sisters awaited opportunities to go to India.

For 15 years after my first profession, I was looking after 45 orphan children. Once I heard four Sisters were ready to go to India. It was the first time Sisters were going by plane. Then at the last moment, one of the Sisters fell ill, and suddenly I got a call to replace her.

In one week we prepared the passport and the papers. I was happy because I got a chance, but I was also frightened, because I did not know any Indian language. I did not even know English. I knew only ‘yes’ and ‘no’ and nothing else, but was happy to go.

On a Good Friday, we reached Dum Dum airport. It was very hot. With black habit and the luggage, I felt uncomfortable. Anyway I threw myself down and kissed the ground. I said: “I am an Indian, I am here. I am giving myself to you!”

What did you want to achieve in India?

I was thinking of teaching, baptizing them, to give them Jesus, and make them love Him. A month after arrival, the superiors sent me to Dudhani, to replace a Sister who was sick. I was then with Mother Teresa (now Blessed Teresa), learning Santali with her, and learning English. I felt the help of God.

A month later, I was called a village to prepare people for baptism. The priest-in-charge told the superior to send me and he would teach me Santali. The priest put me in-charge of 40 families in a new mission. I was reading Santali to them, but how could I explain? I know the Holy Spirit was putting words into my mouth. Then the priest one day told me, I could teach him Santali!

What were the happiest moments of your missionary life?

I was happy. I was always with the people in the villages, teaching them and being with them. Whatever they did, I did too, and whatever they ate, I ate too. In the 16 years I spent in one mission, every morning I taught the villagers, after nine O’clock in the morning I taught the women and later children. I had a beautiful time then.

What was the biggest challenge?

I did not know the languages when I started, and I did not know the ways of speaking to the people, and was even afraid of them. Later, when I understood their ways, I was comfortable. When I knew that Jesus was speaking through me, I became happy.

How did your family respond to your coming to India?

They are happy, and they have a desire to see me. I went to Italy in 1998, and told them that I would not visit them again. I told them that if they wanted to see me, they should come here. Because when I go there, I have no time for myself. Everyone wants to hear from me about the mission here, but often I cannot do my work.

How were your family and friends supporting your mission in India?

We were 11 children, of two became nuns, and the others are married and have their children. I write to them my experiences in the mission. They collect some money and send it to help my mission here. It was through the correspondence with them that I am able to remember Italian.

How do you look at the transition of Indian sister replacing Italians?

The Italian Sisters are not coming, because there are very few vocations. Here there are more vocations, and that is the reason why the Indian Sisters go to other countries as missioners.

I feel it is the same, whether Italian or Indian Sisters. We all do the work of the Lord. I spent most of my years with Indian Sisters. For me the Indian Sisters were the Italian Sisters.

Would return to Italy if given a chance?

My people ask me to return to Italy. My superior has also asked me if I wanted to return to Italy. I gave my young age to the mission, and I will give my bones too to the mission.

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