Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brescia (Fides Service) – Father Lorenzo Franzoni, an Italian Missionary aged 74, who has worked for 46 years in brazil; Comboni Sister Fosca Berardi, aged 78, in the Middle East since 1954 and lay missionary Ivana Cossar aged 57, 29 spent serving the people of Africa are three missionary winners of the 13th Friendly Heart Award Cuore Amico. The award, instituted in 1991 the 10th anniversary of the Cuore Amico Fraternity Onlus Association, is given to a religious man, a religious woman and a lay missionary. The winners this year work in very different areas of the missionary world: Brazil, United Arab Emirates and Burkina Faso. The award ,which gives a prize of 150,000 Euro, is the only one of its kind at the national level and its aim is to make known the valid and often silent service of thousands of Italian missionaries all over the world.
The prize will be awarded on 25 October in Brescia, in the presence of the winners, civil and religious authorities. A special guest will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Prefect of the congregation for Bishops.
Father Lorenzo Franzoni worked for 46 years in Brazil. At Sao Bento he opened three schools, including one for disabled children, as well as workshops for training young people, a small brick factory, and a farming co-operative.
Sister Fosca Berardi set out for Eritrea in 1954 where she founded Asmara University with Sister Maria Nora Omnis. In 1977 she was sent to the United Arab Emirates where she left her mark as a foundress of Catholic institutes, a teacher and head mistress. Sister Fosca is convinced that the school is a powerful means for building interreligious dialogue. Her main aim is to cultivate peace and tolerance in the Arab world.
Ivana Cossar lay missionary aged 57, spent 29 years in Africa fighting illiteracy. She learned the languages of her people Baule, More, Dioula, Samo, Bobo, San and San-ro in order to teach them to read and write and also to improve their farming methods for a more dignified living condition. She had several books printed in African languages, African stories translated into Italian and the New Testament in Samo. At present Sister Fosca is still in Burkina Faso. SL (Fides Service 12/9/2003 EM lines 27 Words:
