On 4 December 2013, Sr. Liliana Toni celebrated her 100th birthday. Present for the big day were Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan, Superior General, Sr. Dolores Melis, Provincial Superior, the sisters of the Alba community, Bishop Giacomo Lanzetti of Alba, numerous Pauline priests and Sr. Liliana’s relatives, including her sister, who is almost 98.
Sr. Liliana has spent most of her life in the FSP Motherhouse of Alba, witnessing to self-surrender to the Lord–an attitude that has given rise to many other of her characteristic traits such as her serenity and docility, peace and goodness, precision and love of orderliness. Sr. Liliana still carries out small services in the community and her mind continues to be clear. When urged, she willingly recounts the story of her life, beginning with her entrance into the Congregation in Alba at the age of 13, her memories of the transfer of the FSP community from Piazza San Paolo to Corso Piave, her work in the stockroom and experiences in the Domodossola community and book center, followed by her return to Alba, where she was asked to carry out the hospitality apostolate and then work at the reception desk and switchboard.
It is wonderful to see how enthusiastically Sr. Liliana still participates in the various aspects of community life and also to watch her kneeling in prayer before the Love of her life, asking that his Word be proclaimed to everyone and welcomed by them.
