In memory of Sr. Helena

In memory of Sr. Helena 

I remember a smiling Sr. Helena who liked to share chocolate whenever there were some occasions to meet together in Rome. She looked most fragile but still participated in singing together with the community.

Sr. Helena Sun-ki Park who was born in 1951 in Busan and lived the missionary life in Italy for 40 years passed away on a beautiful spring day on April 6, 2020, at the age of 70 in the midst of widespread pandemic in the world.

According to her novitiate colleague, she was a bit shy but she liked to make others happy with warm-hearted love, wit, and playful words. Her cheerful expressions, pleasant attitudes, and good mentality made others feel comfortable.

She used to collect and save various things to share with others as a gift when the feast day of sisters approached. Above all, she prayed hard and practiced her devotion well.

She was willing to decorate the hallway or bulletin board. When she practiced dancing to celebrate various events like the first profession or the perpetual profession, she joined actively and guided her companions to do hand gestures flexibly. She didn't learn music professionally but she could memorize a melody quickly and sang along beautifully.

She was very considerate of those who were sick and ran to the nurse to take medicine and care for them. She always stayed until the end to cover her shoulder with a blanket to protect others from the cold weather when they went to bed on a cold winter night. In this way, she practiced sincere warm-heartedness in taking care of others.

In fact, she wasn't healthy at all and she was very particular with some food like rabbit meat. Nevertheless, she made efforts to be patient and adjust herself to the rules of being grateful and taking all the food that the convent gave.

She entered the Congregation in 1974 and made her first profession on Jan. 25, 1979. In 1981, still as a junior, she accepted the invitation to serve in the Queen of Apostles Hospital run by the Daughters of St. Paul in Albano.

Together with another Korean sister, she finished her nursing studies in Rome and served in the hospital.

Whenever she came to Korea on her vacation, she never lost her kind and attentive heart, bringing even the smallest gifts like a rosary, small holy articles, the cross, the holy image, chocolate, etc. for the community. She loved the Queen of Apostles hospital so much that she didn't come to Korea often. Her mindset also began to resemble that of an Italian.

Unhappily, an abnormality began to occur in her body. Due to poor circulation, her hands became cold like ice, and the color of her fingertips changed. Even though her body became weaker and weaker, she never resigned from serving as a nurse.

Also as a community choir leader, she didn't lose the joy of teaching the hymns and serving for the liturgy. As a music teacher who played the organ enthusiastically and taught the hymns for the many elder sisters of the Albano community, she gave her whole being up to her last strength. She had such an indomitable inner power. May eternal peace rest upon her!