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Home / Awards / Servitor Pacis Award / 1996 THE SERVITOR PACIS AWARD RECIPIENTS 1996 - Sister Maria Angela Bertelli, X.M.M. Sister Maria Angela Bertelli, X.M.M., religious sister of the Xaverian Missionary Society of Mary, born in Modena, Italy, in 1959. After her formation she served as a nurse in her community while attending courses in Theology and Psychology. She was sent to the U.S.A. for studies as a Physical Therapist Assistant, and then to Sierra Leone to assist in the rehabilitation program for disabled children. In January 1993, after taking her perpetual vows, she left for Sierra Leone where she studied Temne, one of the local languages, and then began working at the Rehabilitation Center in Kambia. She returned to the U.S. to obtain, in New York, a B.S. in Physical Therapy in hopes that Sierra Leone would again find peace, and that the work with children in need of rehabilitation could quickly be resumed. While in Sierra Leone Sister Angela and six other Xaverian Missionary Sisters, were abducted at gunpoint by soldiers of the Revolutionary United Front, a rebel group at war with the country's military dictatorship. The soldiers led the sisters, along with approximately 150 civilians, on a six-day, 120-mile march to a remote military camp. During this time they received minimal amounts of food and water. They were released nearly two months after their capture. The six other Xaverian Missionary Sisters captured with Sister Maria Angela Bertelli, are: Sr. Teresa Bello, born in Salerno (Italy) in 1953. She obtained a B.A. in Theology at the Gregoriana University in Rome and was then sent to the Mission of Sierra Leone in 1990 where she served as pastoral assistant in the parish of Masiaka, while also offering religious education in an Islamic School. Sr. Agnese Chiletti, born in Fiorano Modenese (Italy) in 1947. Upon completing her studies as a Physical Therapist, she began her service at the Mission of Sierra Leone in 1984. There she devoted herself to the care of children with Poliomyelitis and other disabilities. Sr. Hildegart Jacoby, born in Parana, Brazil, in 1955. She entered the Xaverian community in 1973 and serves in pastoral work in Brazil. She was then sent to the United States where she obtained a B.A. in Religious Studies at Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts. joined the sisters in Sierra Leone in 1991 where she contributed to pastoral activities. Sr. Adriana Marsili, born in Frascati (Italy) in 1948. For several years she served Hispanic Communities in the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and then was sent to Sierra Leone in 1990 where she worked at the chaplaincy of a Catholic secondary school in Kambia. Sr. Anna Mosconi, born in Bergamo (Italy) in 1936. After a lengthy period of service in the Congregation’s Italian communities, where she assisted with administrative duties and with the care of the sick, she left for Sierra Leone in 1983 where she dedicated herself to the assistance and education of women. Sister Lucia Santarelli, born in Ravenna (Italy) in 1930. After many years of pastoral work in southern Brazil she was asked to offer her service in the newly opened mission of Sierra Leone in 1983 to work in the formation of community leaders and catechumens.
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