Global Sisters Report a project of National Catholic Reporter Sign up now View Author Profile the Xaverian Missionaries of Mary issued a statement expressing gratitude to the women for "giving their lives to the end and to all who sent messages of support and solidarity The order said they were also praying for those who "committed this senseless crime." Brief bios on the nuns accompanied the statement A book about the women and their writings will be released in fall 2016 a town in the north Italian province of Vicenza She entered the Xaverian Missionaries of Mary at age 25 she left for the Congo (then Zaire) where she spent almost the entirety of her missionary life carrying out pastoral activities and cathechesis in various parishes throughout the Uvira diocese in South Kivu Province Olga lived through the wars that "tore the nations of the African Great Lakes region," sharing in the insecurity of those times with the Congolese she served as a Xaverian delegate — an administrative position within the order — representing Congo and Burundi she was assigned to the Xaverian mission in Kamenge she nonetheless conveyed a pastoral presence Her community said Olga loved meeting people and was often seen walking and praying the rosary around the mission compound the superiors were uncertain about my return to Burundi I am however happy you are leaving: Go and give your life!' From then she had served as Eucharistic minister at the morning Mass a town in the north Italian province of Milan There she worked among the poor as nurse and obstetrician for 12 years she was sent to the Congo where she nursed and midwifed for 25 years "Lucia helped many babies come into the world many mamas into motherhood," her order noted Lucia was assigned to the Kamenge mission in Burundi Although age and poor health prohibited her from continuing her beloved profession she chose to remain in the mission offering what her sisters described as "a presence of prayer and fraternity." on the eve of her departure from a visit to the Motherhouse in Italy at my age and in a weakened state that doesn't allow me to run around day and night as before I can say my desire to remain faithful to the love of Jesus through the mission is still very much alive The mission helps me in my weaknesses to tell him: 'Jesus Lucia was killed the day before her 75th birthday a village in the north Italian province of Padua she left for the Congo (then Zaire) in 1970 where she spent most of her life dedicating herself to pastoral work and the promotion of women Bernardettta helped develop adult literacy programs and schools and training programs for women and girls she was called to Italy and appointed general Councilor of the Congregation a position she held until 1984 and from 1993 to 1996 She participated fully in the mission there nurturing the communal life of the religious and running a modest job training program — a sewing school — for youth Her community said Bernardetta was always attentive to the needs of the poorest They described her as a woman known for her welcoming smile who possessed a "simple and fraternal capacity of being with others" despite the barriers of culture and language "We must nourish in ourselves a sense of sympathetic regard respect and appreciation for the cultural values and traditions of the populations we encounter in addition to giving serenity to the missionary makes it easier to find the language and opportune gestures for communicating the Gospel." Back to the main story - Murders in Burundi: Missionary order reckons with killing of three sisters Global Sisters Report only nine municipalities in Veneto will be called to renew their mayors and municipal councils which will call 56.632 voters to the polls with possible run-offs set for 8 and 9 June at the same times The small number of municipalities voting is due to the fact that many renewed their bodies in 2020 the 2020 elections were postponed to autumn effectively extending the mandates until 2026 the 2025 elections mainly concern municipalities under special administration or with early elections Among the nine municipalities involved in this round of elections And only one has a population greater than 15 inhabitants: it is Santa Maria di Sala elected in 2022 with a center-right coalition was ousted in December 2024 by nine councilors of the majority leading to the municipality being placed under special administration three are competing for the tricolor sash: the outgoing Rocchi is trying again Against her are the former deputy mayor Alessandro Arpi supported by most of the center-right parties and the young candidate of the center-left The other Venetian municipality voting is Eraclea Here too the institution was placed under special administration following the motion of no confidence against the centre-right mayor Nadia Zanchin The mayor had taken over the reins of the municipality after a previous receivership following the scandal that followed the investigation into mafia infiltration The only municipality voting in the province of Treviso is Borso del Grappa with a population of approximately 5.800 inhabitants left office in November last year following the resignation of nine councilors given that the challenge is between Fiorella Ravagnolo the search is underway for Valeria Mantovan's successor: elected in 2022 with the center-right the young administrator was called to replace the Councilor for Education Mantovan therefore left the post of mayor in September 2024 making new elections necessary in her municipality There are four candidates: three are expressions of civic lists - Mario Mantovan while Stefano Permunian is running for Fratelli d'Italia the polls will be open only in Ospedaletto Euganeo elected in 2021 with a center-right civic list resigned in May 2024 following the no-confidence vote of seven councilors All names representing civic lists are in the running: Severina Masiero a very small municipality with 377 inhabitants also holding the roles of assessor and municipal councilor Another tragedy led to the vote in Sospirolo was struck down by cancer at the age of 55 in continuity with the previous administration Acting deputy mayor Maurizio Arzenton is running again and challenging his contender Marco Grazia fell in 2024 due to the resignation of ten councilors clashing with two other exponents of the center-right - Michele Sordo and Jonathan Modenese - and with the center-left candidate Luca Sordo Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram