“I am struck very much by the fact that they are all so very different, each one with a character of their own and a story of their own to tell, but what they have in common is their fidelity and constancy in looking after the Holy Places.”
With these words, Luisa Chiesa relates her experience as a volunteer at the service of the Custody of the Holy Land. Originally from Milan, Luisa is a wife and the mother of five children. For some years now she has been spending periods of time in Jerusalem, making herself available for various jobs, from cooking for the friars to cleaning the Holy Sepulchre. Her experience as a volunteer began a few years ago when, on a trip to the Holy Land with her eldest daughter, she discovered an Italian teacher was needed for the friars who were candidates for St Saviour’s convent.
“At that time, they needed a teacher for the Italian course for the new student friars of St Saviour,” Luisa tells us. “So I stayed for about three months, during which I became very fond of these young men who came from all over the world to study and start out on their path of Franciscan formation.”
A service of care and dedication
In her years of service at the Custody, Luisa has worked in close contact with the community of the Franciscan friars of the Holy Sepulchre. She has cleaned the Latin parts of the Basilica, which are always in need of care and maintenance. She has collaborated with Fra Stéphane Milovitch, in charge of the Terra Sancta Museum, on cleaning and preserving various sacred objects. Her most significant memories include the time dedicated to cleaning the Medici altar, in the Latin part of the Calvary, before it was removed for restoration.
“It was a very complex job,” she says. “During the day, the Sepulchre was crowded with pilgrims, so we would work in the evenings to have greater peace and quiet. It was a wonderful experience, because I also involved the other Italian volunteers who lived with me!”
Whether it is teaching Italian to new students or polishing the objects of silver in the museum, Luisa’s service at the Custody of the Holy Land stands out for her deep gratitude and spirit of helpfulness.
“I am very pleased to be able to give my time in this way,” Luisa reflects. “Especially when I clean the objects in front of the Tomb. At those times I feel deeply close to Jesus and I feel his gaze on me.”
The value of the experience as a volunteer
Each period spent in Jerusalem has enriched Luisa with new friendships and deep bonds. “The friendships born with my first students has remained and has become consolidated over the years. Every time I return, it is a joy to meet again and all be together.”
The times shared with the other volunteers in Jerusalem are also a precious treasure. “Every time I come here, new relations are created, we become friends and we build up a real family. Together we discover lots of things, such as the fact that cleaning the Tomb, although it may seem a humble job, actually fills us with peace and joy.”
Being a volunteer in Jerusalem is an experience which for Luisa also deeply enriches her faith. “I am now teaching Italian to a friar from South Korea. Each time I realize how much there always is to learn from them: their helpfulness, their company but also their faith and their love for these places.”
An enriching gift
Each experience in Jerusalem leaves an indelible mark on Luisa. “It is like taking home a small piece of heaven on earth. I don’t know how to explain it, but it really seems to me to be in a place that is closer to God, closer to Jesus.”
This awareness permeates every moment of the day spent in the Custody. “Here we are more present, more conscious of our faith and our mission. In Jerusalem, every action becomes an opportunity to get to know yourselves and God from closer.”
By:Lucia Borgato / custodia
source link: https://www.custodia.org/en/news/stories-of-living-stones-luisa-helpfulness-which-enriches/
