Sister Emmanuelle - a modern icon of reliogiosity - passed away on 20th oct. a few days before her 100th anniversary

Thanks to my spouse I had the chance to meet several times Sister Emmanuelle, a catholic sister born in Brussels, but living most of her life in Middle East as a school teacher. At 63 instead of going into retreat, she decided to live in the slums of Cairo amidst the poor who collected the rubbish of Cairo. She was a tough fighter against poverty and did not shy controversial statements. She travelled regularly to Europe to collect funds to finance her projects of schools, youth clubs and finally a compost factory. During her tour in Belgium she regularly stayed at our home; she posed direct questions to all family members on what where our concrete plans and in how it would help humanity. She was really charismatic and lived extremely soberly. Never in my life have I been more touched than when we have visited her when she was living in a small “cabane” on the slumps in Cairo, surrounded by pigs and rats.

She often exclaimed the word “Yalla”, the arabic version of Avanti, Go, Vorwerts …. Do not look into the past but concentrate on what you will do in the future. And smile! In her own prayers she asked God to have the same smile of the poor around her. She teached us, rich westerns, about the happiness of poverty.

For those interested in reading books about & by Sister Emmanuelle, see http://www.speedylook.com/Emmanuelle_sister.html

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Published by Jean-Pierre Rammant - Visit Website