Cabras, Sister Maria Concetta Esu greets the citizens before her last trip to Africa

She feels like a nun like many others and always repeats the same phrase: «I have done nothing more than the others». Words that he also repeated a few days ago to Pope Francis, in Rome, during a confidential meeting, the fifth in a few years. But this is not the case for everyone, not even for the community of Cabras which on Saturday during a big celebration will greet Sister Maria Concetta Esu, 89 springs behind her, for a missionary life in her beloved Africa where as a midwife she gave birth to more than 40,000 babies .

Indicated in 2019 by Bergoglio as a model for all the missionaries of the world, Sister Maria Concetta, originally from Villasor, for Cabras is a symbol of strength and generosity. After spending a period in Sardinia for treatment, given his precarious health conditions, he decided to leave again, he wanted to die among his people, among the many poor people he helped during his sixty years on a mission.

But not before saying goodbye to Cabras, a town to which she is so attached: her brother Don Giulio Esu was the parish priest of the Sacred Heart church for 40 years. And he himself will celebrate the homily on Saturday at 6 pm. A way to say goodbye. "I decided to leave for Africa because that's where I spent my life helping others - says Sister Maria Concetta Esu, daughter of St. Joseph of Genoni - When the Lord decides to call me I want to be there, among my people". Decision also shared by Pope Francis. "During our last meeting he himself told me to return immediately to Africa where there is still so much need of me".

The party in his honor was organized by his family who live in Cabras. After mass, citizens can greet Sister Maria in the parish hall. "For the occasion there will also be a fundraiser that will be used to finish building a school in Africa that bears my aunt's name - says Annalisa Tuveri, niece of Sister Maria Concetta Esu - Her last wish".