Sister Veronica Piccone and I met at the St. Frances X. Cabrini Shrine in New York City where we served together on the Board of Trustees. Once we took the bus from Washington Heights to Sister’s home. It took almost two hours, but during that time I realized I was in the presence of a very special person.

A few years later I was told I had colon cancer. Nothing prepares you for this information. The surgeon would not assure me that everything would be alright. This was a devastating introduction to the world of illness. At the same time, my 19-year-old niece had cancer. Christine died a few days after I came out of the hospital. There didn’t seem to be any way to process my emotions. I was also coping with a son who had been the victim of a violent crime and a multimillion dollar lawsuit which had been lodged against us.

When my life fell apart I felt free to call on Sister Veronica to help me pick up the pieces. Many nights she would listen patiently over the phone, sometimes gently offering good advice. When the Cabrini sisters (whom I call “the big guns”) began to pray for me, I knew healing was possible. Gradually, I was lifted out of the abyss. There is no greater act of kindness than to be there for someone in need. Sister Veronica was there for me in her quiet and persistent way. I finally knew what it meant to be a Christian.

Sr. Veronica’s Story of the Heart was written by Rozanne Prisament.

-----

Stories of the Heart: The Missionary Sisters are as diverse as the ministries in which we work. We are educators, nurses, social workers, campus ministers, pastoral care workers, spiritual directors, and administrators. We invite you to share in our stories.