Sister Esther and Sister Yolande – Antsirabe (Madagascar)
PROJECT 45 of 72
MISSION
Location
Diocese
Antsirabe
Country
Madagascar
Continent
Africa
GPS coordinates
-19.83350 47.06852
Time zone
UTC+3
CONGREGATION
Congregation
Congregazione del Sacro Cuore di Gesù di Ragusa
Mother House
Roma
Diocese
Roma
Country
Italy
Continent
Europe
Congregation feast day
May 09
GPS coordinates
42.00863 12.38072
Time zone
UTC+1
Contact person
Sister Georgette
Superior General
Sister Ester Mazzara
Website
TRAINING ORGANIZATION
Name
Misericordia di Adrano
Location
Adrano (CT)
Country
Italy
Continent
Europe
GPS coordinates
37.67791 14.83545
Time zone
UTC+1
Start date
04/03/2024
End date
02/09/2024
Tutor
Serena Arcoria
REAL SPACE
Project manager
Sister Georgette
Start date
October 2025
Type
Bread of Mercy
In addition to spreading the Works of Mercy, the sisters in Madagascar were initially interested in developing a coffee plantation, a profitable but underexploited sector in the country. This idea changed completely when, in March 2025, three volunteers from Misericordia di Adrano, supported by spazio + spadoni, visited the sisters’ communities in Madagascar. Together, they were able to assess the project’s feasibility more thoroughly, and the decision was made to launch a livestock farming activity in the community where the sisters run an orphanage and a high school, so that the young people could also benefit from the products. Moreover, in the community of Antsirabe, where the social enterprise will be established, the sisters own a large plot of land and several barns already built to house the animals.
Sister Esther and Sister Yolande arrive at Misericordia di Adrano on March 13, 2024, after spending a few days at the General House in Rome. The Governor and all the volunteers welcome the sisters with great enthusiasm, and a varied training program begins immediately. The sisters also become part of community life, and the various local festivals are excellent opportunities to introduce them to the local population.
In Adrano, Sister Yolande and Sister Esther carry out recreational activities, especially for young people, provide social services, and receive first-aid training and ongoing training in agriculture and livestock farming.
At the end of April 2024, Sister Esther returns to Madagascar, while Sister Yolande joins her in September of the same year.
Learn more Voices from Madagascar: a growing spiral of solidarity Voices from Madagascar: training to save lives—the new challenge of OPERA M Imady Solidarity with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Ragusa HIC SUM spazio + spadoni in Madagascar Misericordia di Adrano (part three) HIC SUM – Misericordia di Adrano (PART 2) My HIC SUM at Misericordia di Adrano The Social Enterprise, a Step in the HIC SUM Project HIC SUM in Madagascar The Mercy of God on the Move – Part 2 The Mercy of God on the Move – Part 1
Timeline
2023
May | Beginning of the relationship with the Congregation
The relationship between the Congregazione delle Suore del Sacro Cuore di Ragusa and spazio + spadoni is established
2024
05.03 | Sisters’ arrival
Sister Esther and Sister Yolande arrive in Italy from Madagascar and stay for a few days at their Mother House in Rome
March | Training
Sister Esther and Sister Yolande receive training in first aid and volunteer awareness. They also take part in various community events
10.03 | Visit from spazio + spadoni
spazio + spadoni meets Sister Esther and Sister Yolande at the Mother House in Rome
13.03 | Start of the project at the Misericordia
Sister Esther and Sister Yolande are welcomed in Sicily by Misericordia di Adrano
02.05 | Sister Esther’s departure
Sister Esther returns to Madagascar
28.05 | Livestock farming training
Sister Yolande receives training by visiting a local livestock farm
24.06 | Dairy training
Sister Yolande receives training in cheese production
02.09 | Sister Yolande’s departure
Sister Yolande returns to Madagascar
2025
14-30.03| Volunteers in Madagascar
Three volunteers from Misericordia di Adrano (Pietro, Serena, Agatino) travel to Madagascar to visit the Congregation’s communities, present OPERA M, and provide first-aid training, especially in schools
29.05 | Meeting of Madagascar volunteers
The group of Works of Mercy volunteers in Madagascar meets spazio + spadoni
02.08 | spazio + spadoni participates in the General Chapter
Luigi Spadoni is a special guest at the General Chapter Assembly of the Suore del Sacro Cuore di Ragusa to explore HIC SUM and OPERA M in greater depth
02.11 | First aid in the Parish
The sisters meet parishioners to talk about the Works of Mercy and demonstrate first-aid techniques
10.11 | First funding disbursed
The funding is intended to renovate the barns and purchase the equipment needed to launch the livestock farming social enterprise
2026
18.01 | OPERA M Volunteers
The volunteers, together with the sisters, continue to spread the Works of Mercy
12.02 | Second funding disbursed
The funding is intended to complete the purchase of six cows and one bull
21.02 | RiEvoluzione of the Works of Mercy
Sister Esther organizes training on the riEvoluzione of the Works of Mercy promoted by spazio + spadoni for 18 superiors of her Congregation
23.03 | Third funding disbursed
The funding is intended to support the livestock farming social enterprise
Project Evaluations
June 2023 The Congregation submits a
project for coffee cultivation in Madagascar
May 2024 The Congregation discusses with
spazio + spadoni about the project
May 2024 Budget submission
project
July 2024 spazio + spadoni meets the
Congregation
Photos and videos
