Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Not only Catholics frequent the Mauritius community which meets every second Sunday of the month at the Convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Succour in via Merulana 170. "This is an opportunity - community leader Yvonnette César tells Fides - not only to celebrate Mass in our own language but also to have news about our country and our loved ones". In fact Mass is followed by refreshments and community dancing. A moment of joy but also of sharing difficulties encountered here in a foreign country. "Most of the 500 immigrants from Mauritius in Rome are women employed for housework. Not many are able to bring their family with them or find a job equal to our qualifications". It is also difficult to find somewhere to live because rents are high and these women can give little references. "There is another reality - says Yvonnette - some of our women are married to Italians and have a family and are fully integrated into Italian society".
For Ivorian Catholics from the point of view of work the situation is better. "Some work at the Embassy of the Côte d'Ivoire - said community leader Jacques Abi - or at FAO". The community of about eighty, mainly women, meets every first Sunday of the month at the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (via Santa Giovanna d'Arco 5) for Mass and sometimes for baptisms and weddings, and to share their impressions of life in Italy. "Ivorians have the same difficulties as other immigrants in Rome- the community leader tells Fides -. Some have a good job, but others do not and this makes it difficult to find lodgings".
In the capital there is also an Egyptian community but it has no place to meet. "There are about a hundred Egyptian Catholic families in Rome - Fr Jona tells Fides - but we only have space for thirty". He told us that after Mass, celebrated in the Basilica di Sant'Anastasia al Palatino (piazza S. Anastasia 1) the community often meets in the pretty but uncomfortable field of Circo Massimo. "This means we cannot celebrate baptisms or first communions and our families have to go to the parish in which they live". Most Egyptian immigrants in Rome are women. "Many are home-helps despite a university degree - says Fr Jona -. Most Egyptians in Italy have a degree obtained in their own country but they have to be content with a modest job until their qualification is recognised in Italy as valid". (M.P.) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2006 - righe 35; parole 521)
