Seoul (South Korea). The Embassy of Italy to Korea awarded the Honor of “Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy” to Sr. Adriana Bricchi, 90-year-old Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, a missionary in Korea since 1959.
The award ceremony took place on 21 September 2022 in Seoul, at the residence of the Ambassador of Italy. The Ambassador, Federico Failla, presented the honor signed by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, Archbishop Alfred Xuereb.
Present at the ceremony were Sr. Lidia Strzelczyk, Visiting Councilor of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, representing the Superior General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola; the Provincial of Morning Star Province (KOR), Sr. Cecilia Kim; some FMA; the Coadjutor Salesian, Marino Bois, missionary; and others. Thanks to the attention of the Embassy of Italy, the family of Sr. Adriana was able to follow the ceremony from Italy via an online link.
The Ambassador presented the reasons for the honor bestowed on Sr. Adriana Bricchi:
“A missionary in Korea since 1959, she has given her uninterrupted work in favor of the education of poor minors and young women who left their provinces to work in the cities for post-war reconstruction. … Sr. Adriana continues her work by teaching the Italian language and seeking financial aid to support the activities of the Center, which is still operating in psychotherapeutic support for adolescents with family, drug or psychological problems”.
The Order of the Star of Italy, established by the Law of 3 February 2011, is an honor granted by the President of the Republic, on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. With this recognition, we want to reward those who have acquired particular merits in the promotion of friendship and collaborative relationships between Italy and other countries, and in the promotion of ties with Italy. The Order is divided into five classes: Knight of the Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight. There is also a special class of Grand Cross of Honor, intended for those who have lost their lives or suffered serious physical disabilities in carrying out activities of high humanitarian value abroad.
Born on 15 September 1932 in Zelo Buon Persico in the Province of Lodi, Italy, in 1955 Sr. Adriana Bricchi made her first Profession in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in Holy Family Province of Milan (ILO). Sr. Adriana continues daily to live her identity as a helper of young people, in being the mother and friend of the girls of the Mazzarello Center in Seoul, now a rehabilitation center for minors.
Sr. Adriana shares:
“Thank you for choosing me to receive this honor. I feel I am only the representative of all the Sisters who have worked with me during my long life. They too deserve the honor conferred on me by the President of the Italian Republic. Of course, first of all I thank God who created me and called me to the FMA Institute. I thank the Institute that sent me to this beloved mission of Korea. Only God knows how many people I have to thank, so I have nothing but prayer to invoke joyful blessings on everyone. To the Ambassador, to the members of the Embassy, to those present at this simple ceremony, I express my gratitude for the delicacy in participating in this flattering, albeit undeserved, honor”.
Complimenti!!! Brava, carissima sr. Adriana Bricchi. Grande, grandissima missionaria ad gentes!