Ouagadougou (Fides Service) - Camillian Brother Giovanni Grigoletto, a trained nurse on mission for 30 years at the San Camillo Medical Centre for Adults in the capital of Burkina sent Fides a reflection on this work in Ouagadougou.
“Many times when chatting with friends and visitors who come to Burkina Faso, people ask what type of patients Camillian structures care for, that is, what is their religion. This question is often posed by people who find themselves for the first time in a multi-religious situation; people who live in countries where most people are Catholics, at least in name.
It is necessary to change our way of thinking and realise that health care offered in the spirit of St. Camillo is for everyone, whatever their religion, social condition, ethnic origin or skin colour. We do our work without asking our patients to embrace our personal faith from which we ourselves draw inspiration, strength and courage to continue our daily mission as “good Samaritans” with the help of the Lord and well aware of our human limits, according to the charisma of our Order.
On a memorable occasion Pope Paul VI once said ‘the world needs witnesses more than teachers’. It is this concept that in our daily work leads us to rejoice when Muslims are won over by our witness and embrace our faith.
The path is long: there are questions, explanations, careful observation; it can also be an arduous path because the person involved, attracted by Christian witness, meets with obstacles, misunderstanding and not rarely aversion on the part of his or her traditionally Muslim family.
But our joy is great when through us the Lord’s hand touches the heart of some suffering brother or sister, and calls them precisely through suffering to become part of the people redeemed and saved by the Blood of the Son of God .
Then once again we sing the praises of the Lord who is ‘good and generous in his love” and works great things, as in Mary, through those who strive with humility to practice charity.” (GG/AP) (6/12/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:36; Parole:414)